“I’ll believe it when I see it!” That was the response from a woman who was told that she had won a cash prize, no strings attached.

This woman’s response clearly showed that she didn’t put her faith in the empty promises of a telemarketer.

There are  many things that we shouldn’t put our faith in – promises of easy money with no effort, tropical vacations with no money down and sight unseen, and buy/now/pay-later marketing schemes. If anyone makes any of these promises to you – RUN!

But there are some things in life we can count on. For example, we don’t question whether the sun will rise and set everyday. When we exhale, most of us don’t anxiously wonder if there’ll be enough oxygen left over for the next time we inhale. We can even trust the weather. Okay, maybe not if you live in Michigan like I do where we can expect that it’s going to get cool, then get cold, very, very   cold. Warm up a little for spring, and then get blistering hot in the summer. We know that this cycle will happen over and over as long as the earth rotates.

Life is ever-changing too. But prayer can bring stability to it. Inner peace comes in knowing whatever I’m praying about can be left in God’s hands. It’s important to Him. He won’t forget about it, nor will he ignore me. It’s a deep trust that God cares about me and that He’s working for my good. (Romans
8:28)

Faith doesn’t demand that God come through me exactly the way I want Him to, or even in my own timeframe. Faith doesn’t wring its wings with worry, wondering if anything will come of my request.

It’s normal to doubt from time to time. But when waves of doubt threaten to capsize the ship of faith, remember Christ’s words to believe and then receive. – Allison Stevens


REFLECTION
When am I most inclined to doubt that God hears my prayers and is working on my behalf? How can
I strength my faith when I pray? Believe calms the waves of worry. RESOURCE : Why Christians Doubt? www.discoveryseries.org/q0717

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Today Verses : Mark 10:21 - 24

Some of your friends may sincerely believe that “God is nature and nature is God.” They see little need for the Bible or for salvation in Christ. In your reaction against worshipping nature, however, you may miss what the Lord wants you to  learn through His creation.

Dr. George Washington Carver (1864 – 1943), a noted African-American scientist, was  a strong believer in Jesus and a student of the Bible. He took an early morning walk almost every day. Historian Gary Kremer says of him: “Here was a man who could go out in the morning and find God in anything and everything he encountered. Whether it was a flower, a piece of grass, a bird, a tree, he found God in everything. And because he searched for God in everything, he found Him, and when he found Him, he listened to the word that God sent him for that day.”

Carver wasn’t worshipping creation but was acknowledging God’s creative hand in it. In the February 10 reading, Oswald Chambers writes: “If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature. In every wind that blows, in every night and day of the year, in every sign of the sky, in every blossoming and in every withering of the earth, there is a real coming of God to us if we will simply
use our starved imagination to realize it.”

The examples of these dynamic followers of Christ point us towards God’s amazing creation. Psalm 148 calls on elements of nature, from the stars to the sea creatures, to praise God their creator. “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created…. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens”  (vv. 5, 13) Instead of rushing past the flowers, clouds, and creatures made by God, we would do well  to slow down, look, and listen for their voice of praise.

It’s a song we can join to praise the Lord, the mighty God of all creation. – Dave McCasland.

REFLECTION
When was the last time I stopped to marvel at a sunset and let it teach me something about the Lord? "Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created."
Verses Today : Psalm 148:1-14

1.  A Public Execution Assured His Death
On a hill outside of Jerusalem, Jesus was crucified between two criminals. To ensure death, Roman soldiers thrust a spear into His side.

2. A High-ranking Official Secured the Gravesite
Pilate ordered the official seal of Rome to be attached to the tomb and had soldiers stand guard.

3. In Spite of Guards, the Grave Was Found Empty
Some of Jesus’ followers went to His grave. They found the huge stone over the entrance to the tomb was moved, and Jesus’ body was gone.

4. Many People Claimed To Have Seen Him Alive
The apostle Paul wrote that the resurrected Christ had been seen by Peter, the 12 apostles, more than 500 people, James, and Paul himself (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)

5. His Apostles Were Dramatically Changed
They became zealous in their determination to sacrifice everything for their Savior and Lord. After they were beaten for disobeying the Jewish council, these once-cowardly apostles “never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 5:42)

6. Witnesses Were Willing To Die for Their Claims
They died for their claim that Jesus Christ had died for their sins and had risen bodily from the dead to show that He was like no other spiritual leader who had ever lived.

7. Jewish Believers Changed Their Day of Worship
Jewish followers of Christ began worshipping with Gentile believers on a new day. The first day of the week, the day on which Christ had risen from the dead, replaced the Sabbath.

8. Although It Was Unexpected, It Was Clearly Predicted
The disciples must first have thought Christ was speaking in symbolic language when he kept saying that it was necessary for Him to die and be resurrected from the dead. Coming from Obe who spoke in parables, they missed the obvious until it was all over.

9. It Was a Fitting Climax to a Miraculous Life
During His 3-year ministry, Jesus walked on water, restored crippled limbs, cast out demons, and raised the dead. All this being true, we shouldn’t be surprised that His enemies didn’t have the last
word.

10. It Fits the Experience of Those Who Trust Him
The apostle Paul’s heart was dramatically changed by the resurrected Christ. It’s the experience of people all over the world who have died to their old ways, and now Christ lives His life through them.

By Trail Marker

Names are important, aren’t they? They tell us a lot about a person. This is especially true for the Chinese. There are usually three parts in the name. Each part is a word by itself and carries the meaning of a character trait with it – like loyalty or beauty.

In addition, the name tells us how a person is related to another member in the family tree. The first name is the family name. It distinguishes one family from another. The second name is the generation name. It distinguishes one generation from the next. The last name is the given name. It distinguishes the individual from all others in the household. A person’s association is all wrapped up in his name.

In Genesis 25, we read about why Esau was named Edom. He was hungry and asked his brother for some food. Jacob gave him some red stew in exchange for his birthright. From that day on, he was given another name, Edom (which literally means red). Who would think that taking some red stew would be such a defining moment in a person’s life! I know of Asians who have taken on an English name like Peter or John on the day of their conversion or baptism, but never of anyone who was named “Sweet and Sour Chicken” after eating a meal.

There’s an important truth behind this event. It wasn’t just about the way names came to be. Moses, the writer of Genesis, left us a clue in verse 34. It says, “So Esau despised (disregarded) his birthright.” When he took the stew that day, Esau decided that the physical food in front of him was more important than all that was behind the rich spiritual heritage promises by Jehovah-God to him as the eldest son.

Such was the character of Esau. He valued his physical needs far above what God deemed important. This ungodly characteristic was wrapped up in his new name, Edom. What about your character? What qualities could be associated with your name? – Lim Chien Chong

REFLECTION
Would my friends characterize me as one who values physical security far above what God thinks is important? How can I invest more time or money in what God deems as important?

“Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” Today Verses : Genesis 25:24-34

Watching the Weather Channel for anything other than the weather report is a significant clue that you’re wasting time. But as the threat of yet another baseball strike loomed, I decided to boycott ESPN’s Baseball
Tonight. 

The History Channel, my favorite was documenting the story of the assembly line. So, forgive me for finding category 4 hurricanes riveting. During the show on catastrophic weather, the phrase “act of God” sneaked its way into the  narration. That choice of words intrigued me. Why is it that we call natural calamities “Act of God”? The power of nature certainly demonstrates God’s strength. But we often try to blame God for bad things. That’s what Adam tried to do way back in the Garden.

“The woman You put here with me,” Adam said after God confronted him with his sin (Genesis 3:12), “she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it [so it’s Your fault, God, and hers too]. Okay, so Adam didn’t say that last part, but he was thinking it!

We looked at the Holocaust and ask, “How could God let this happen?” We ask why God lets  terrorists fly into buildings in their misguided quest for paradise. The consequences of the fall of the human race are too huge to discuss here. But the terrible things in the world are not God’s fault. The world He designed was paradise!

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” says the very first line of Scripture (Genesis 1:1) . The creative acts of God are outlined for us in the succeeding verses, always with this phrase: “God saw that it was good.” The plants and the trees were pronounced good. The sun, moon, and stars: good. The birds and fish: good. The other living creatures: good. Human beings: very  good.

Next time you’re in the great outdoors, or just talking with a friend (who is made in God’s image), remember the wonderfully creative acts of God. It’s a fallen world. But what God created is good! – Tim Gustafson

REFLECTION
Why do we often look for someone to blame? What good things in nature have I been overlooking or taking for granted? When have I taken time to praise God for them? Good is good – all the time.

“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” Today Verses : Genesis 1:20-31

“… I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet
like the feet of a deer. He enables me to go on the heights.”  -Habakkuk 3:2-19

Your way, O Sovereign Lord, Your way, and not mine.
Let the trials come to test my heart and it refine.
With wisdom You control every aspect of this land;
I will rest in knowing I can trust your loving hand.

Your will, O Sovereign Lord. Your will, and not mine.
May I turn away from the plans I would design.
Your holy vision pierces the armor of my heart;
Bring me to my knees, break my chains apart.

Your life, O Sovereign Lord. Your life, and not mine.
May I be made pure, turn my water into wine. 
Take me from what you require and save me from myself,
I long to truly know the things that you call wealth.

Your heart, O Sovereign Lord. Your heart, and not mine.
May I show to others Your love so great…  divine.
Remove my selfish, prideful thoughts – filling me with grace;
Lord, let me grow today through the trials I must face.  – Tom Felton


REFLECTION
What trials or difficulties am I experiencing? How can I learn from God through these difficult times? What does Habakkuk 3: 17-19 mean for me today? God saves us from overselves. RESOURCE : Why A Good God Would allow suffering? www.discoveryseries.org/q0601

TODAY verses : Habakkuk 3:2-19

A really rich man walked up to the religious leader and asked: “Sir, what else do I need to do? I’m already a good guy but I want eternal life. I can do anything. Did I mention I’ve always lived a really good life? So, what should I do?” And the leader replied, “Sell everything, give it to the poor, and follow me.”  “Everything?”  

“Yes. Everything.”

“My ranch in Montana, the home in Italy, my beach house in California, the condo in Cancun?”

“Dump 'em!”

 “Okay, but I was going to take a few trips this year. The Greek Islands cruise, the African safari, and the trip to Bora Bora?” 

“Forget about it!”

“Okay, but can I keep the Mercedes and the Hummer and the Porsche and the BMW?”

“Sell 'em! Take the money and give it to the poor.”

And the man was really sad. He was very rich. As he walked away, he said to himself, “But I can’t give away everything I have. It’s impossible!”

Does God require that we give up all our money and possessions when we accept His gift of salvation? Of course not! But in the case of this wealthy young man, Jesus knew his money was going to be a big problem. He would have a lot of trouble placing his confidence in God alone because he had always depended on his bank account.

Jesus deliberately used hyperbole to describe the man’s inwards struggle when He said, “It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24)

Money and possessions can get in the way of our surrender to Jesus by faith. So can the security of a full-ride scholarship or a good job. But God offers a way of true success. Our attempts to enter heaven on our own merit is impossible.” Apart from God’s grace, none of us can ever be saved, but “with God all things are possible.” – Cindy Kasper

REFLECTION
What good things have I done that I’m hoping will guarantee a place in heaven for me? How do I balance that belief with Isaiah 64:6? RESOURCE : Who Is This Man Who Says He’s God?  www.discoveryseries.org/q0205

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Today Verses : Matthew 19:21-26

It usually starts in August. Notices begin to appear in the church bulleting that say something like this: “Choir season is approaching, and we need both old and new voices. Plan now to sing with our choir. Rehearsals on Wednesday evening, from 6:30 – 8:00. All are welcome.”

A couple of weeks later, this announcement appears: “You still have time to sign up for the choir. First rehearsal is Wednesday, September 8, in the sanctuary. Bring a friend.” The next week: “We have urgent need for more voices in our choir. We will be singing some exciting new music and some old favorites. Donuts and coffee provided.”

Sunday morning. The choir director makes this verbal announcement: “choir rehearsals begin Wednesday night, and we need more singers. Especially tenors. If you’ve sung with us before, you know how much fun we have. The donuts are krispy kremes – fresh!”

Recruiting for choir is a tough job. It takes reminders, pleas, bribes, and even threats. Finally, in the course of a message on serving sacrificially, the pastor may say, “Some of our good singers haven’t joined the choir yet. Come on, I’m giving you my personal invitation. Are you going to make me call you?” Maybe you’re thinking. I’m glad I don’t have the responsibility of finding people to fill your choir. I’d sure hate to beg and plead like that! But you’ve that job!

Everyone of us is a recruiter for heaven’s choir. Each of us is commissioned by the Lord Jesus to go tell people the good news of the gospel. When a person receives Christ, he is born into the family of God. We’ll join a heavenly choir in singing praise to the Lamb of God. He’ll combined our voices with every creature in heaven and on earth, to sing great hymns of praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Whom can I recruit for the “heavenly choir”? – Dave Egner

REFLECTION
Do I willingly accept my responsibility to tell others of Jesus? How much should I encourage people to trust in Him? Should I pray for them? Plead with them?

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Today Verses : Revelation 5:11-14

Have you been infected by “selfism”? Christian psychologist Dr. Paul Vitz feels that much of what today’s mental health professionals tell their clients is pure  narcissism, egoism, and the worship of self. People are counseled to become “self-actualized,” to bow at the altar of humanism. But when hard stuff in life happens, suddenly that altar begins to crumble.

When tough times come – when people get bad news from the doctor, or when someone they love dies – all the optimistic, self-focused hot air that’s been pumped into them suddenly escapes. You can almost hear them shriek, “But suffering isn’t supposed to be part of my self-actualization!”

Jesus wasn’t motivated by “selfism.” He accepted suffering as part of God’s perfect plan. Open an concordance and you’ll find many references to His willingness to suffer on our behalf. (Matthew 16:21, Mark 9:12, Luke 24:26, Acts 26:23 is a partial list.)

Jesus did suffer and die, but He rose again! There was joy in the morning, the third day. There was purpose in the pain. Selfism doesn’t understand this reality. It teaches people to do everything possible – emotionally, mentally, physically – to push suffering aside and seek goals of personal fulfillment. God’s goals for you and me will include suffering.

Peter, who saw Jesus suffer and who experienced great hardships himself, wrote these words: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Who do we endure suffering? It’s about faith. A faith which God is growing within us. A healthy, strong, humble faith is a cure for the infection of selfism. – Tom Felten

REFLECTION
How is Jesus using my current problems to draw me close to Himself? Why is it important for me to
suffer in this life? RESOURCE : The Lord is my Shepherd www.discoveryseries.org/hp952

"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials." Today Verses : 1 Peter 1:3-7

You may know her as Tony Danza’s kid from Who’s the Boss? (80s trivia alert!) Or as Eva Savelot in the 1-800-COLLECT commercials. Alyssa Milano has survived kid-stardom and avoided the need for rehab. She has also put her body under the tattoo needle seven times – pictures and symbols including an angel, a fairy, and the ouroboros. Looking at her tattoos, you wouldn’t know she was a Buddhist, Christian, or wannabe ancient Egyptian. When asked what her religion beliefs are, Alyssa answered,“I believed in everything. But I don’t practice anything.” So, spiritually speaking, who’s the boss?

Alyssa Milano is a product of a postmodern generation that says there’s no absolute truth. Your truth is as good as mine. Whatever works for you is okay, but don’t push it on me. Long before the advent of this relativistic thinking, God knew we could fall into that trap. Hebrews 13:9 warns, “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.”Knowing how easy it is for followers of Christ to drift away, Paul told Timothy to confront other believers in “love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5) Paul’s letters are full of instructions on how to have “sincere faith” and put worldly influences aside.

Here are some things you can do to make sure your faith in God is sincere. Spend time with other believers (Acts 2:46-47). Know Jesus well enough to recognize an imitation (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). Be sure your motives for serving Jesus are honorable (Philippians 1:17). Clear your conscience. Confess all sin (Hebrews 10:22). Spend time reading the bible so that its wisdom will guide you (James 3:17). Love your fellow believers deeply (1 Peter 1:22). On Alyssa Milano ‘s left wrist is tattooed the ohm, the Hindu symbol that stands for the beginning and end of everything.

The True Beginning and End to everything is JESUS. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). It’s the absolute truth. Do you believe it? –Tracy
Carbaugh

REFLECTION
How do I feel about the word truth? What are some of the false claims I’m confronted with? How do I recognize them? “Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk.”
Today  Verses : 1 Timothy 1:3-7