My Inbox of Daily Inspirations: 12/16/07

Today's Verse : Psalm 69:5-6

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December 17, 2007

VERSE:
You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. May
those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the
LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because
of me, O God of Israel.
-- Psalm 69:5-6

http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Psalm+69:5-6

THOUGHT:
While we're all weak and sinful, and while we do have Jesus to
atone for our sins and to intercede before the Father on our
behalf, there are still a couple of big problems with our sin. This
verse reminds us of one of them: we don't want our sin to be an
embarrassment to God or his people. Let's avoid sin because that is
what God wants us to do. Let's avoid sin so it won't reflect badly
on God's people. But let's also pray for ourselves and our brothers
and sisters in Christ that God will not allow our failures to bring
shame on his Church, his Christ, and his cause.

PRAYER:
Forgive me, loving Shepherd, for my sins. I am sorry for
rebelling against your grace. I am fully confident that you have
forgiven and cleansed me of my sins through Jesus' sacrifice. But
please, dear God, use your divine power to prevent them from
bringing shame or embarrassment on you and your people. In Jesus'
mighty name I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20071217

Today's Verse is also available in:
PORTUGUESE - http://www.iluminalma.com.br/dph/2/1217.html

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THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD, by Brother Lawrence
This edition of this timeless devotional classic will help you
cultivate a continual awareness of God in the everyday.
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Today's Verse is written by Phil Ware <phil@heartlight.org> and is
part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, the leading Christian living e-zine
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Today's KJV Verse : Psalm 69:5-6

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December 17, 2007

VERSE:
O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from
thee. Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be
ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for
my sake, O God of Israel.
-- Psalm 69:5-6

http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Psalm+69:5-6&translation=kjv

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CAPTIVATING: UNVEILING THE MYSTERY OF A WOMAN'S SOUL, by John & Stasi Eldredge
Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the
pressure to be a "good servant," a nurturing caregiver, passionate
lover, or capable home manager. What Wild at Heart did for men, this
book can do for women.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?251

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Daily Wisdom NIV : Galatians 6:9

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Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9, New International Version
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Galatians+6:9

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Daily Wisdom KJV : Galatians 6:9

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And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9, King James Version
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Galatians+6:9&translation=kjv

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Quotemeal: "Some men have thousands of ..."

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Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they
want to, when all they need is one reason why they can.

-- Willis Whitney

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THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE, by Rick Warren
Takes the message of The Purpose-Driven Church and shows us how to
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http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?222

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Daily Heartlight -- December 16, 2007

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December 16, 2007

=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================

The Inflatable Christmas, by Tom Norvell

One of the holiday decorations that has literally popped up on the
lawns of neighborhoods throughout our community, and I suspect around
the nation, is the inflatable. These inflatables declare with
unmistakable fashion the coming of Christmas.

In close proximity of our home, one can see an inflatable Santa, an
inflated Rudolph, an inflatable Frosty the Snowman that stands fifteen
feet tall and bounces in the breeze, and an inflated Merry Mickey
Christmas. Some of these decorations have lights and some do not. Some
even have fake snow falling and swirling. On one lawn, a passerby can
see Joseph, Mary, the baby Jesus and at least one of the Magi safely
enclosed in a colorful plastic bubble that lights up at night.

It's inflatable Christmas. Hmmm. An interesting concept.

The inflatable Christmas is full of air. There is not much to it, at
least not much of substance. It's decorative and is totally dependent
upon air to make it appear as anything more than a piece of trash on
the lawn. Pull the plug, and these inflatables collapse.

The inflatable Christmas is for show. Drive through these neighborhoods
in the daylight hours and these same displays usually lay flat and
lifeless on the ground. Empty. Deflated.

The inflatable Christmas is temporary. Like most Christmas decorations,
the inflatable Christmas is seasonal. Some displays will come down on
Christmas Day. Some will be packed away the day after Christmas. Some
will remain in tact for a week or so through New Year's Day. Most,
however, are completely out of sight by mid-January -- except for those
whose masters choose to leave their lights up all year, but only plug
them in around Christmas, but surely even their inflatables will have
to be put away when the lawn mower comes out.

The inflatable Christmas can be a reminder of a more serious condition:
the inflatable Christian.

The inflatable Christian is full of air. Not much content. Not much on
the inside. Not much real conviction and very little substance. No
depth. On the surface, they look good. Bright. Cheerful. Exciting.
Colorful. However, they are filled by what is light and air.

Let's live the life ... the real life!

The inflatable Christian is only about the show. Just look at and
admire them. Praise them for what appears to be really nice, but don't
look on the inside. Appreciate them from a distance, but don't get too
close or you may be surprised, disappointed, or discouraged.

The inflatable Christian is temporary. They only appear on special
occasions. They are not around during the dark days of winter or the
dry days of summer. During those times, they're busy with what the
surrounding world says are the important things. However, when the
season is right and the message is pleasing, they show up ... dressed
up, smiling, and looking good for the occasion.

The real Christmas and the real follower of Christ are not made of
plastic and can not be deflated by simply pulling a plug. The original
Christmas was real and a genuine follower of Jesus is solid in any
season. The original Christmas has meaning and a real Christian is
consistent in their commitment in public and private.

Jesus may have had inflatable Christmas and inflatable Christians in
mind when He described the religious people of his day -- the inflated
religious folks -- with terms like, "Everything they do is done for
others to see ... hypocrites ... blind guides ... whitewashed tombs" (Matthew
23).

We have a choice of what kind of Christian we will be and what kind of
Christmas we will have. Let's enjoy the season to the fullest. Let's
remember the true meaning. Let's celebrate the story. Let's share the
joy. Even more, let's live the life ... the real life, not the inflated
one.

---------
(c) 2007 Tom Norvell <tomnorvell@mac.com>. Used by permission. A
Norvell Note <http://www.anorvellnote.com> is a weekly email
message from Tom Norvell. Check it out!

Morning & Evening -- Matthew 11:28 and Isaiah 48:8

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Sunday, December 16, 2007

MORNING:

"Come unto me."
-- Matthew 11:28

The cry of the Christian religion is the gentle word, "Come." The
Jewish law harshly said, "Go, take heed unto thy steps as to the path
in which thou shalt walk. Break the commandments, and thou shalt
perish; keep them, and thou shalt live." The law was a dispensation of
terror, which drove men before it as with a scourge; the gospel draws
with bands of love. Jesus is the good Shepherd going before his sheep,
bidding them follow him, and ever leading them onwards with the sweet
word, "Come." The law repels, the gospel attracts. The law shows the
distance which there is between God and man; the gospel bridges that
awful chasm, and brings the sinner across it.

From the first moment of your spiritual life until you are ushered into
glory, the language of Christ to you will be, "Come, come unto me." As
a mother puts out her finger to her little child and woos it to walk by
saying, "Come," even so does Jesus. He will always be ahead of you,
bidding you follow him as the soldier follows his captain. He will
always go before you to pave your way, and clear your path, and you
shall hear his animating voice calling you after him all through life;
while in the solemn hour of death, his sweet words with which he shall
usher you into the heavenly world shall be-"Come, ye blessed of my
Father."

Nay, further, this is not only Christ's cry to you, but, if you be a
believer, this is your cry to Christ-"Come! come!" You will be longing
for his second advent; you will be saying, "Come quickly, even so come
Lord Jesus." You will be panting for nearer and closer communion with
him. As his voice to you is "Come," your response to him will be,
"Come, Lord, and abide with me. Come, and occupy alone the throne of my
heart; reign there without a rival, and consecrate me entirely to thy
service."

EVENING:

"Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that
time that thine ear was not opened."
-- Isaiah 48:8

It is painful to remember that, in a certain degree, this accusation
may be laid at the door of believers, who too often are in a measure
spiritually insensible. We may well bewail ourselves that we do not
hear the voice of God as we ought, "Yea, thou heardest not." There are
gentle motions of the Holy Spirit in the soul which are unheeded by us:
there are whisperings of divine command and of heavenly love which are
alike unobserved by our leaden intellects. Alas! we have been
carelessly ignorant-"Yea, thou knewest not." There are matters within
which we ought to have seen, corruptions which have made headway
unnoticed; sweet affections which are being blighted like flowers in
the frost, untended by us; glimpses of the divine face which might be
perceived if we did not wall up the windows of our soul. But we "have
not known." As we think of it we are humbled in the deepest
self-abasement. How must we adore the grace of God as we learn from the
context that all this folly and ignorance, on our part, was foreknown
by God, and, notwithstanding that foreknowledge, he yet has been
pleased to deal with us in a way of mercy! Admire the marvellous
sovereign grace which could have chosen us in the sight of all this!
Wonder at the price that was paid for us when Christ knew what we
should be! He who hung upon the cross foresaw us as unbelieving,
backsliding, cold of heart, indifferent, careless, lax in prayer, and
yet he said, "I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy
Saviour ... Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been
honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee,
and people for thy life!" O redemption, how wondrously resplendent dost
thou shine when we think how black we are! O Holy Spirit, give us
henceforth the hearing ear, the understanding heart!

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VELVET ELVIS: REPAINTING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, by Rob Bell
In this provocative, hopeful book, Bell asks what the church might look
like if today's believers fully embraced "the way" of love, peace,
sharing possessions, compassion, risk, forgiveness, and harmony.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?254

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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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My Utmost For His Highest : "Wrestling Before God"

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December 16, 2007

WRESTLING BEFORE GOD

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God ...
praying always ...

Ephesians 6:13,18

http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=eph+6:13,18&sr=1

You have to wrestle against the things that prevent you from getting
to God, and you wrestle in prayer for other souls; but never say that
you wrestle with God in prayer, it is scripturally untrue. If you do
wrestle with God, you will be crippled all the rest of your life. If,
when God comes in some way you do not want, you take hold of Him as
Jacob did and wrestle with Him, you compel Him to put you out of
joint. Don't be a hirpler in God's ways, but be one who wrestles
before God with things, becoming more than conqueror through Him.
Wrestling before God tells in His Kingdom. If you ask me to pray for
you and I am not complete in Christ, I may pray but it avails
nothing; but if I am complete in Christ my prayer prevails all the
time. Prayer is only effective when there is completeness -
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God."

Always distinguish between God's order and His permissive will, i.e.,
His providential purpose towards us. God's order is unchangeable; His
permissive will is that with which we must wrestle before Him. It is
our reaction to the permissive will of God that enables us to get at
His order. "All things work together for good to them that love God"
- to those who remain true to God's order, to His calling in Christ
Jesus. God's permissive will is the means whereby His sons and
daughters are to be manifested. We are not to be like jelly-fish
saying, "It's the Lord's will." We have not to put up a fight before
God, not to wrestle with God, but to wrestle before God with things.
Beware of squatting lazily before God in stead of putting up a
glorious fight so that you may lay hold of His strength.

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SIMPLY CHRISTIAN: WHY CHRISTIANITY MAKES SENSE, by N. T. Wright
Destined to become a classic alongside Lewis's Mere Christianity - a
fascinating and accessible apologetic for modern seekers.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?255

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MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST - by Oswald Chambers /\/\
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Praying with Paul : "Discerning, not Deceived"

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DISCERNING, NOT DECEIVED

Colossians 2:4-7

http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Colossians+2:4-7

Dear Father, my rock,

Help me to think clearly with discernment. Keep me from being
taken in by the beguiling speech of deceivers.

Give me great joy in manifesting good order in my conduct and
being absolutely firm in my faith.

As I received Christ Jesus as the Lord, grant that I may live in
him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.

Grant that I may do this with great praise and thanksgiving!

All praise, thanksgiving, honor, and glory to you, our Father, for
what you have done for me through Jesus Christ, in whose name I
pray. Amen.

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THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE, by Rick Warren
Takes the message of The Purpose-Driven Church and shows us how to
apply it to our individual lives.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?222

Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!

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WJD! -- Treachery Behind the Scenes -- Luke 23:5-12

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Sunday, December 16, 2007

Treachery Behind the Scenes

They said again and again, "But Jesus is making trouble with
the people! He teaches all around Judea. He began in Galilee,
and now he is here!" Pilate heard this and asked if Jesus was
from Galilee. Pilate learned that Jesus was under Herod's
authority. Herod was in Jerusalem at that time, so Pilate
sent Jesus to him. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very happy.
Herod had heard all about Jesus. So he had wanted to meet
Jesus for a long time. Herod wanted to see a miracle. So he
hoped that Jesus would do a miracle. Herod asked Jesus many
questions, but Jesus said nothing. The leading priests and
teachers of the law were standing there. They were shouting
things against Jesus. Then Herod and his soldiers laughed at
Jesus. They made fun of Jesus by dressing him in clothes like
kings wear. Then Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. In the
past, Pilate and Herod had always been enemies. But on that
day Herod and Pilate became friends.

-- Luke 23:5-12 (ERV)

KEY THOUGHT:
The trials of Jesus were a mockery. None of them was about justice. The
Sanhedrin was not supposed to meet secretly at night. Pilate pronounced
Jesus innocent, yet kept the legal proceedings going for political
expediency. Herod had no desire to do the right thing; he was
determined to do the politically correct thing. This was nothing more
than treachery. Jesus was not treated fairly. He did not receive
justice. What was done to him was what God decried throughout the Old
Testament through the prophets -- there was no justice in the courts
and those with money and power misused their influence. Sinners and
traitors convicted Jesus. He was the innocent lamb led to slaughter. He
was the perfect sacrifice for all who are sinners ... even for us and
those who put him to death.

TODAY'S PRAYER:
Father, it breaks my heart to see your Son treated with such treachery.
While it angers me, it also helps me bear those times that I am treated
unfairly. I know that Jesus is with me in those times and that he more
than understands my emotions. Thank you for walking in our unfair and
often cruel world as one of us so that we can share eternity with you.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

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>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:

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>> For further study of today's passage, use our
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http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Luke+23:5-12&sr=1&t=erv

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