 Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. In the midst of a passage that deals with prayer, Paul interjects this thought: "Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand." I think that the word "gentleness" is somewhat misleading and does not effectively communicate the Author's point. In the RJV Bible (Ronald Joseph Version) which does not exist, it would read more like this: "May you have a great reputation, because of your even-tempered appropriate decision-making ability." "Ok, I know...it doesn't flow every well, but at least you get the point." Believers need to be known for their sound judgment. As if the Lord is at hand making said judgments! How much would I change in my decision-making process if God had a greater voice...no, make that, if God had the final say in all my decisions? How many problems would that solve? How many prayer requests would never have needed to exist in the first place? How much heart-burn and how many head-aches would have been avoided. Maybe it would be prudent to make my decisions as if "the Lord is at hand." I have observed that many of our prayer requests are a direct result of poor decisions. The Bible instructs us to stay out of debt. To avoid yoking ourselves unequally with sinners. To make an effort to pass down our faith to our children. To pay our taxes and submit to authorities. The list of wisdom to make appropriate decisions pours out of pages of the Bible. Why not obey the dictates of scripture? It will help us make wise decisions. It will help us avoid many a pit-fall. It will remove much of the worry and stress associated with life. Ultimately, you will be recognized as an even-tempered individual who makes great decisions. Questions to Consider:
Author's Note: Not many people are wise, but they could be. Jesus stated that those who listened to His words and lived them were like the wise man who built his house on the rock. At least in my life--I need to think less and obey more. I need to acknowledge the Lord in all of my decisions--that is how, even I, can become a wise guy...make that, wise man. RJD
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 Scripture: Psalm 118:21-24 (NKJV)
I will praise You, For You have answered me, and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. I still remember standing in chapel at Northwest University singing "This is the Day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made, I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it and be glad in it..." I wasn't really "feeling it!" It was at the end of the semester, and I had a Friday final right after chapel. (With only four more the following week) I was annoyed, singing an "air-headed" song like, "This is the Day." Obviously, I was missing the point of the song. The song is not a "cream of wheat" platitude like Mr. Rogers' "It's a Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood." We were singing a song that originated in the Psalms and it is referring to the day of Christ's atoning work. The 118th Psalm would have to be considered prophetic in nature, because the Psalmist was looking forward to the point in time when Jesus, "The stone which the builders rejected" became "the chief cornerstone." The day when Jesus was crucified was both horrific and glorious. What Jesus endured in order to become our salvation was heartbreaking, and yet, it was a glorious day of hope. The Psalmist referred to Christ's work as "marvelous in our eyes!" It has been a very long time since Jesus died on the cross, so what does that historic event mean to me in the here and now? It means that I live each day covered by the righteousness of Christ. It means that I enjoy an ongoing and deepening communion with the Father. It means that the Holy Spirit is living in me. It means that my life is full of joy, hope and faith. It means that I am a beloved son of God. I could go on and on... This one thing I do know...if I ever have the chance to sing the chorus that I found so annoying...I will sing it with a lot more passion! "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!" Questions to Consider:
 Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NASB95
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! [5] You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. [6] These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. [7] You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. [8] You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. [9] You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Devotional Thought: This ancient admonition clearly establishes two priorities in the life of Believers with children. The first priority is to love God, and the second is to pass that passion for God down to our children. This is the most important challenge that faces the community of faith. Back in the time when this challenge was issued to the nation of Israel, the children were educated within the context of the family. A short time later the Hebrew male children were sent to the local synagogue for education and said education had one priority--that the children would know God's Word. In the post-modern era, the priority of education is not God-centric. That is true of all public education; but, even in private Christian schools and in our home schools, we would be hard-pressed to say that the reason for education is to nurture a greater love for God. Most parents would agree that Math, English, Science and Reading are all essential skills, but they have now become the priority of education. It is a subtle switch; but it is a profound departure from the Deuteronomy command. In early American history, the reason children were taught to read is so that they could read and understand the Bible. (The end game was not learning to read--it was learning to read the Bible) If passing our faith down to our children is to remain a high priority, we will need to start considering making it the visible priority in all practical areas of life. The question is "where do we begin?" Start with some "easy to do things" such as read the Bible together as a family at the dinner table. Also, pray as a family--not long prayer meetings, but praying on all occasions when a need arises that requires prayer. Put visible signs of your faith everywhere and play music that is glorifying God. Lastly, talk about God with your children whenever you get the chance. Questions to Consider:
 Scripture: John 14:12-14 NASB95
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. [13] Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. Devotional Thought: Jesus was a walking miracle. In terms of miracles, He is unmatched in the annals of history. We are talking about turning water into wine, cleansing lepers, casting out demonic spirits, healing the blind, raising the dead and walking on water...just for starters. So, the very idea of normal humans doing greater works than Jesus, well, it is simply difficult to believe. And yet, there it is..."The works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do…" What if Jesus was serious about His bold statement? What if Jesus has plans for us to do the things that He did and even greater things? What if there is no ceiling on what we can accomplish through His authority and power? If Jesus meant what He said, then we need to reconsider the role of the Church today. If we affirm the truth of Jesus’ bold statement, in faith we should step out with a new sense of boldness and proclaim the Gospel, with the knowledge that Jesus will deliver whatever it is that we need to fulfill our mission! Questions to Consider:
 Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-8 NASB95
Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. [6] “For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. [7] “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. [8] “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit. Devotional Thought: In the world of visual arts, particularly with photography, contrast makes all the difference in how a picture looks and is perceived. Turn the contrast down and the picture fades and loses color. Turn the contrast up and the colors of the picture get separation and pop out. It could be argued that the most visual difference between amateur and professional photographers is the understanding of how to use contrast. Throughout scripture, we have a vivid picture of contrast, which is the measurable difference between the life of a Believer and the sojourner who has no faith. The Believer and non-believer are both living life, breathing the same air, facing the same daily challenges, living with virtually the same opportunities. With all that the Believer and Non-believer have in common (which is much), the contrast between their lives is marked with profound and measurable differences. The greatest contrast between a Believer and a non-believer starts with faith. The person who trusts in the Lord is literally “blessed” by God. The person who is living without the benefit of God’s blessings is facing the challenges of life in their own personal strength. We will all face trials during our journey in this life; but the person who trusts in God can face it with peace knowing that they are like a tree planted by the waters. Questions to Consider:
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