Friday, December 30, 2011

FORGIVE OUR SINS

Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;" (Romans 14:16, NKJV)


A man hastily wrote out a note and left it on his car window under the wiper, “Dear Officer, I have been circling this block for the past 30 minutes unable to find parking. I am late for an important interview. If I miss it I will lose my job. Forgive us our trespasses”.

He returned later to find a traffic citation and a note back to him, “Dear Sir, I too have been circling this block for the past 30 minutes. If I do not give you this citation I may lose my job, lead us not into temptation.”

Our actions have consequences. What we do affects not only our lives but the lives of others. Let be careful that our good actions don’t cause others to stumble.

From DAY LIGHTERS by Nico Bougas. Available from amazon.com

Monday, December 26, 2011

False Worshippers


Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too! (Matthew 2:8, NLT)


Herods by the score sit in the pews of many churches today. Outwardly, they appear devout and deeply religious, but inwardly they are living a lie. They don't know God. They don't have a relationship with Him. They may sing the songs and give to the offering. They may do all the right things, but it doesn't mean they are true worshipers, because God looks on the heart.

If your life is not right with God when you come to worship Him, not only does it fail to please God, but it is offensive to Him. What does God see in your heart? There are plenty of false worshipers today. Are you a true one?

Saturday, December 24, 2011

What's the Point of Christmas?


I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. (Luke 2:10, NLT)


On a December day back in 1903 at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright, after numerous failures to fly a heavier-than-air machine, made amazing history. They achieved something that no man had ever done before. Ecstatic, they sent a telegram to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 852 feet. Will be home for Christmas."

Overjoyed, Katherine ran down to the local newspaper and pushed the telegram--the greatest news story of the new century--into the hand of the editor. After reading it, he smiled and said, "Well, well! How nice the boys will be home for Christmas."

How sad it is that so many miss the full meaning of Christmas in that they have never thanked Jesus for dying for their sins, nor accepted the most profound and precious Christmas gift ever given ... the gift of the Savior and his pardon for all their sins and his gift of eternal life.

From Day Lighters by Nico Bougas with thanks to Dick Innes for this story. Available from amazon.com

Friday, December 23, 2011

Persecution at Christmas

Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies." (Hebrews 13:3, NLT)


Christmas is a wonderful time when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christian faith. But as we sing carols and go to church, we ought to spend time remembering and praying for Christians all over the world who can't even begin to enjoy the religious freedom we take for granted.

There are countries where it's completely illegal to be a Christian, where turning to Christ if you are born into another faith is an invitation to be murdered by your neighbours. From North Korea to Saudi Arabia, followers of Christ are in daily peril for death for their faith. In other countries, being a Christian is the surest way to get fired from your job or denied access to education.

Christians have faced persecution since the Book of Acts. But as we enjoy our own Christmas, it is a great reminder to remember those who live in fear, simply for practicing their faith.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Persistence Pays


I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.(1 Corinthians 9:27, NLT)


John Maxwell in one of his books points out that persistent effort is one of the most important ingredients for personal success. Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, studied the lives of more than 500 successful people in America and knew many of them personally. He discovered that the one indispensable ingredient common to all of them was persistence. These individuals kept trying even after repeated failures. It almost seems that great success is won only by people who overcome incredible obstacles and great discouragement. Out of Hill’s study comes this important truth: Success is achieved and maintained by those who keep trying. – Persistence pays.

Have you been discouraged and tempted to quit? Keep going – victory is in sight. We are on the victory side.

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Name

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Philippians 2:10, NLT)


Despite questions about his motives and his ambitions there is no doubt that Napoleon was a great leader. He is reported to have said, “I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; at this hour millions of men would die for Him.”

The name of Jesus is a powerful name that has motivated millions to worship, to serve and to pray. At His name demons flee and angels rejoice. Let us never be ashamed of it. Let us boldly proclaim it.

"God’s name is a place of protection— good people can run there and be safe. " (Proverbs 18:10, The Message)

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Your Judgement Day

For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
(2 Corinthians 5:10, NLT)


The godly Presbyterian preacher, Robert Murray McCheyne, was passing out tracts one day and handed one to a well-dressed lady. She gave him a haughty look and said, “Sir, you must know who I am!”

In his kind way, McCheney replied, “Madam, there is coming a day of judgment, and on that day it will not make any difference who you are!”

When that day comes you will not have to answer for your friends, your family or your associates. Your race, culture or social standing will not be important – the question will simply be, “What have you done about Jesus?”

"There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”" (Acts 4:12, NLT)

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Delay Not Denial

DELAY NOT DENIAL

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV)


The story is told about a lone shipwrecked survivor who landed on a lonely, uninhabited island. He managed to build a simple hut and stock it with items he was
able to save from his sinking ship.

He prayed that somehow God would send someone to save him. Day by day he anxiously watched the horizon to hail any passing ships.

He was devastated when his hut caught on fire and he lost all that he had. He felt utterly forsaken by God.

The very next day a ship arrived to rescue him. "We saw your smoke signal," said the captain.

God’s delays are not denials. He can turn tragedy into triumph.

From DAY LIGHTERS by Nico Bougas. available from amazon.com

Monday, December 12, 2011

Wish You Were Here


I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, “Why has the Temple of God been neglected?” Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties. (Nehemiah 13:11, NLT)


A Sunday School teacher challenged her children to take some time on Sunday afternoon to write a letter to God. They were to bring their letter back the following Sunday.

One little boy wrote, "Dear God, We had a good time at church today. Wish you could have been there."

It isn’t really funny. In fact it is a sad fact that some churches operate in such a routine manner that there is no God and no Holy Spirit. There is no spiritual life and no sense of the presence and power of God at work. They have become simply social clubs where people can meet but there is no motivation to serve and worship God. The Almighty God is completely absent.

From DAY LIGHTERS by Nico Bougas. Available from amazon.com

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Boundaries


I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 139:7, NLT)


A little boy was riding his tricycle furiously around the block, over and over again. Finally a policeman stopped and asked him why he was going around and around. The boy said that he was running away from home. The policeman asked why he kept going around the block. The boy responded, "Because my mom said that I'm not allowed to cross the street."

Some people spend an awful amount of time and energy trying to get away from God and from their spiritual roots. But deep down they know they can never escape from God and in their more rational moments they never want to. They realize, as St Augustine said, “thou hast made us for thyself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.”

From DAY LIGHTERS by Nico Bougas. Available from Amazon.com

Sunday, December 4, 2011

GRATEFUL FOR HER WHEELCHAIR

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV)


Dr. Hubert Davidson visited the noted poetess, Myra Brooks Welch, who perhaps is best known for her masterpiece, "The Touch of the Master's Hand." As he turned to leave her home, Myra patted the arm of her wheelchair and said, "And I thank God for this."

Imagine being grateful for a wheelchair! But her talent lay undiscovered prior to her wheelchair days. Rather than becoming bitter, she chose a better way, and a wonderful ministry opened new doors of blessings for her. Her poems have blessed people around the world.

Joni Eareckson said exactly the same thing when sharing her testimony at the Billy Graham Conference in Amsterdam. She said that many people had offered to pray for her during the conference and she appreciated it. “But,” she said, “this handicap has opened many doors of opportunity and drew me closer to the Lord than anything else.”

DAY LIGHTERS by Nico Bougas Available from amazon.com