InTouch

j a n u a r y

2 0 0 9

what’ s holding you

back?

Make this the year you take that

extra-special vacation 2009 Alaska Cruise July 10-17

Don’t put off celebrating that special event any longer—or pursuing your dream to see more of the world. Listen to what some of our previous guests said about the In Touch Alaska Cruise . . . and start planning now for an unforgettable summer getaway!

Thank you for the cruise of a lifetime—it was totally awesome! To celebrate my birthday with my daughter was so special. And to meet and study with Dr. Stanley was “icing on the cake!”

—Dee & Joyce (Texas) We just returned from our very first cruise, which was in celebration of our 50th anniversary. What a marvelous time we had! We’ve told all our friends that this was as close to perfect as it could’ve been—a little taste of heaven. It was so neat to be pampered; every single meal was absolutely fabulous, and we loved the great Christian music and Bible studies.

—Glenn & Sally Lou (Florida)

For more exciting details, call 800-334-2630, or visit www.templetontours.com to take a virtual tour of the cruise ship!

Last year, some friends and I went on a trip to Arizona to take some photographs and reflect on the majesty of God’s creation.

This particular picture is of the Grand Canyon, with Plateau Point to the left. The dark clouds over this awesome landscape remind us that the storms of life can roll in at any moment— whether we are in the valley or on the mountaintop. But no matter how confusing or impossible the way may seem, if we stay close to God, He is faithful to lead us every step of the way.

on the cover —Charles F. Stanley, 2009

features by

What’s Holding You Back?

c h a r l e s

f.

s ta n l e y

J a n u a r y

2 0 0 9

6

When worries and failures have got you down, take heart. With Christ, the world is full of possibilities.

12

Come closer

b y

e r i n

g e i s c h e n

In the Bible, God spoke. The good news is, He still speaks today—if we’re willing to listen.

early light

32

Start the year right by studying God’s Word with the help of these devotions from Dr. Stanley’s sermons.

departments

18 Family Room

Mommy, Please Stop Screaming! b y

p e a r l

26 by faith

Small Potatoes Aren’t b y

c u m m i n g s

Tired of yelling at your kids? Hal Runkel says you might be owning a problem that isn’t your responsibility to solve.

22 Solving Problems m a r k

f e i t

28 mighty in spirit

I Still Have Dreams b y

s a n d y

What we often mistake for “little acts of God” can prove to be big blessings.

l i t t l e t o n

Don’t stop thinking big—you never know when your desires will be fulfilled.

The Optimist b y

l i n d a

c a n u p

Barnabas looked on the bright side— and discovered that Jesus gives us good reason to see the best in others.

Produced by In Touch Foundation, a supporting organization of In Touch Ministries

IN TOUCH MINISTRIES® INC., P.O. Box 7900, Atlanta, GA 30357 IN TOUCH MINISTRIES OF CANADA, Box 4900, Markham, Ontario L3R 6G9 NEW ZEALAND OFFICE, Box 33-1260 Takapuna, Auckland 1332 0-800-446868 www.intouch.org All prices are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

E-mail magazine-related comments to magazine@intouch.org.

For Customer Care, call 800-789-1473 Monday–Friday, 7 am– 7 pm (est)­.

For U.S. telephone orders, call 800-333-5849.

For Canadian telephone orders, call 800-323-3747.

Dr. Stanley portraits

by Debbie stratton

EVANGELICAL

PRESS ASSOCIATION

To discontinue receiving this magazine, or to report receiving multiple issues, call 800-333-5849, or e-mail partner@intouch.org.

Please include your name and address.

In Touch ® magazine, January 2009, Vol. 32 No. 1. Copyright © 2009; all rights reserved. No unsolicited manuscripts accepted. Printed in the USA. In Touch magazine is neither responsible nor liable for any part of the production or distribution of international editions, whether translated or in English, unless the edition has been licensed and authorized by the governing staff of the domestic In Touch magazine. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise notated or quoted from a secondary source, are from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update. ©Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1994. Quotations marked “NIV” are from the New International Version, ©International Bible Society 1973, 1978, 1984.

A Publication of

to the Glory of God

Dr. Charles F. Stanley PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

Join more than 150,000 other believers on our prayer team to intercede for In Touch Ministries and the people our broadcast reaches

C. Phillip Bowen c hie f c o m m uni c a ti o ns o f f i c er

Tonya Stoneman EDITOR

Linda M. Canup Assist a nt E dit o r

around the world. When you sign up, you’ll receive: • Quarterly prayer calendars

Sandy Feit S E N I O R CO P Y E D I T O R

Erin Gieschen A c q uisiti o ns E dit o r

• A monthly message from Dr. Stanley • Access to prayer resources Sign up now and receive a free Dr. Stanley CD, A Life of Prayer!

Join today at www.intouch.org/prayerteam, or call 800-789-1473 (M-F, 7am-7pm).

Lisa Dyches Cre a ti v e D I R E C T O R

Jeff Gregory ART DIRECTOR

Steve R. Lindsey DIRECTOR OF R E S O U R C E S & F U L F I L L M E N T

­Suzanne A. Millen MA R K E T I N G P R OMO T I O N S P L A N N E R

Have you decided to trust Jesus as your personal Savior?

Do you desire a personal relationship with the One who created you and loves you no matter what? If so, tell Him in your own words, or use this simple prayer:

Father in heaven, Until now, I have been living life my own way, but I want to start living for You. I realize I’ve sinned before You, but I understand that Jesus fully paid my penalty by dying on the cross. I receive the sacrifice He made on my behalf and trust Him as my Savior. Thank You for forgiving me and making me Your child. Amen.

We will gladly send you our New Believer’s Kit to help you take the next step in your walk with God. Contact Customer Care at 800-789-1473, or visit www.intouch.org.

the mission of in touch ministries To lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church

“

{a word from Charles F. Stanley}

Staying the Course

>>Letting Go of Fears and Doubts

i

“

It’s hard to think about New Year’s resolutions when you’re worried about the nation’s faltering economy and involvement in a war. The headlines seem to offer little encouragement these days. How easy it would be to give in to cynicism and despair. Perhaps when trouble or disappointment arises, you ask yourself, How can I continue? Does anyone understand what I am facing?

God does. Our troubled times are nothing new. And people have continued to achieve great things despite the ups and downs—maybe that’s a part of the greatness. Have you ever wondered how the apostle Paul remained on the course God set for his life despite tremendous obstacles?

The Lord understood exactly what Paul was facing, and He understands the pressure of your situation. You are never alone, because your Father is committed to you. His personal knowledge of your life goes far beyond the difficulty of the moment. He knows your frustrations and plans to use each one to strengthen and prepare you for His future blessings. So be encouraged!

Paul successfully endured many challenges by keeping his heart set on Jesus Christ. When adversity came, he turned to God for wisdom and strength and refused to let doubt, fear, or disappointment distract him. Though a number of his letters were written from prison, he remained fully loyal to Christ.

The apostle’s writings reveal personal heartaches, failure, and physical agony. The pain Paul suffered went to the core of his being. In his darkest hour, his faith was stretched beyond what many of us could bear.

Yet despite continuous setbacks, Paul was convinced that God would see him through that turmoil to a greater end. This is why he wrote: “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12).

As you prepare for this next year, remember that many saints, known and unknown, have gone on before you in the strength of our heavenly Lord. And that power is available to you today if you wish to receive it.

Paul was convinced that God would see him through that turmoil to a greater end.”

Anytime we stop too long to take note of our challenging circumstances, we run the risk of being distracted. God does not want us to be overwhelmed by what we see or experience.

He wants us to be informed and wise in making decisions. He knows that otherwise, we could easily miss His best. Disappointments, stiff challenges, and unexpected loss come to everyone, but they do not have to cloud our minds or prevent us

Five essential steps to reaching your goals

by

6 |

Charles F. Stanley

january 2009

In Touch

holding

what’s

b you

from seeing the good that He is doing.

The world has a slanted view of God’s plan and involvement in our lives. That’s why it is so important for us to maintain a close, intimate relationship with the Savior.

One of Satan’s primary tactics is to entice us to become so wrapped up in what’s going on around us that we fail to map out a clear course to follow for the future.

He wants God’s people to become fearful, because He knows if we do, we will stop planning and growing.

Recently, I overheard a woman tell her friend that she was having trouble sleeping at night because she was worried about things happening in the world. She had stopped planning for the future and was becoming consumed by the ups and downs of the financial market and the political scene. Our future is in Jesus Christ—not in the world’s economy. We don’t ever have to worry about what will happen next, because we have a loving, omnipotent Savior who has promised to guide us at every step.

sorrows, and heartaches? Without a doubt.

But God had given His people an irrevocable promise; they would receive exactly what He had said He would provide. The land they were about to enter flowed with milk and honey (Deut. 26:15). It was a place of extreme blessing, but there were several steps they had to follow in order to receive this good gift.

God gives us the desires of our hearts

The first step is to see the promise of the Lord’s provision from His standpoint.

When Israel initially approached the Promised Land, they balked at the idea of claiming what God had given them. They could not envision His will coming true in their lives—especially in light of their circumstances. There were giants in the land, and this fact was a huge roadblock for them. When you view life from a limited perspective, you will not go very far. God sees the big picture, and He knows exactly what must take place in order for you to reach your goals and your full potential.

Second, be confident.

Once you know what God’s promise is, transact business on the basis of Who is doing the promising. The way you do this is by taking time to know Him through studying His Word. Hiding biblical truth within your heart is essential to reaching your goals. While God may not lay out His entire plan all at once, He will provide the insight you need to reach your goals at the right time. So trust Him with every dream and plan you have.

Third, maintain a consuming desire to see your dreams come true. Have you ever considered why you have certain desires?

back?

When we learn how to view life from Christ’s perspective, the future suddenly becomes very hopeful. This is because the Lord has only His best for us. He instructed Joshua to cross the Jordan River to the land that He had pledged to give Israel.

Would there be obstacles along the way?

Absolutely. Would there be challenges,

www.intouch.org

| 7

te

s to see God’s i pro p visio s Th n t e firs

When the people of Israel were in Egyptian captivity, their hearts yearned for freedom. They longed to have a land that was theirs. This was a Godgiven desire. Many of the goals we set for our lives originate within the heart of God. He has a specific plan for each one of us—it is a good plan that is earmarked with countless blessings and extreme hope. But if we hesitate and fail to move forward by faith, we may miss out on these.

Another test of faith involves the decisions we make when difficulties arise and threaten our inner peace. In the ensuing struggle, we may want God to spell out His plan and give us assurance that nothing will ever go wrong. However, we live in a fallen world. Problems are going to come.

Disappointments will happen. And yet God wants us to have faith, regardless of our circumstances.

The Israelites suffered tremendous loss because of their inability to trust the Lord. They walked away from the Promised Land and straight into 40 years of dismal existence, traveling in what turned out to be a huge, unrelenting circle. So keep in mind what they ignored—that when God places a dream or goal within your heart, you can trust Him to work out all the details.

I have talked with many people who commented that they wish they had not given up at certain points in life. I always think, 8 |

january 2009

In Touch

d n a po t s int s i H . fr o m It’s never too late when God is involved.

He allowed Israel to walk away from His goodness, but He had a plan to bring the people back to the land and to the promise that He had for them. We find the account of that divine faithfulness in the book of Joshua.

Maybe you can think back to a time when you wanted to achieve a certain goal. You prayed about it, and God gave you a sense of peace, encouraging you to go forward. But fear and doubt were the enemies that tempted you to turn and go in another direction. That is what the Hebrew nation experienced: the Bible says that when Israel heard the reports concerning the Promised Land, their hearts melted with fear. They wanted to return to Egypt and deny God the opportunity to demonstrate His faithfulness.

Set your goals and live by faith

Is anything greater than God? Absolutely nothing. At times He may allow us to see only what is right before us.

I remember when this principle became very real to me. I was out West photographing, and we ended up camping overnight. As we prepared for sunset and the darkness that was sure to follow, I realized we would not be able to see more than a few feet in front of us. We had only our lanterns and a small fire. Sure enough, as night fell, darkness engulfed our campsite. A brilliantly lit canopy of stars did little to provide the light we needed to move around. It was the light from our fire and lanterns that we depended on—but that was enough. www.intouch.org

| 9

M

ake su that so re

me

al ur go s can b o y ea of

cco mp

li

o

sh ed vine inte i d nly s r i ven on. w it h H ti

God has promised to give His children what they need (Phil. 4:19). We don’t have to know the whole story in order to trust Him. He told Israel He would take them safely into the Promised Land, and He had every intention of fulfilling His promise.

The fourth step is to have a course of action. Reaching your goals requires much more than passion and desire. It calls for a plan, and usually that plan is one that you have taken the time to develop with God’s help through prayer and study. There will be times when He leads you to move forward just a few feet. Other times, He may give you a strong sensitivity to the need to be still and wait for His leading. He knows what it takes to position you to reach your maximum potential.

Step five is to set up a calendar of events.

When I began setting goals, I made sure to write down ones that were short-, mid-, and long-range. God uses short-range goals to encourage us. These include things that we can easily envision taking place. Each morning, I get up and make a list of what I want to accomplish during the day. I mark the items off as I complete each one. If, for some reason, I do not get through my list, I incorporate the unfinished tasks into the next day’s list. The most important thing to remember about setting goals is this: Set objectives according to God’s ability and not your own. Never stack them in favor of

only what you can do. Make sure that some of your goals can be accomplished only with His divine intervention.

When the Israelites were fully ready to trust Him, God brought them back to the doorway of the Promised Land. They were no longer concerned only about the enemies or the challenges they would face. Their primary concern was to accomplish what the Lord had given them to do. They were ready to dream big because they had stopped looking at their human limitations and had begun trusting God to deliver on His promise.

The Father assumes full responsibility for your goals. He is the one who equips you and provides the resources needed to accomplish the tasks He assigns. The Lord said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9).

With those words hidden deep in his heart and dependence set on God, Joshua spoke to the people: “Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (v. 11). Joshua’s confidence was solidly established in the Lord—he knew he would not fail. When you set goals according to the Father’s ways and make a commitment to live by faith in Him, you will gain a mighty victory.

Set goals that matter.

This practical four-CD series from Dr. Stanley helps you visualize and focus on the specific things God wants to do in your life—no matter how big or small.

resource new!

CD | $25

See order form or visit www.intouch.org.

“

Turning Over a New Leaf

a “

>>Overcoming Those Bad Habits

2 Corinthians 10:5 | by Jennifer devlin

As we turn the final page of a calendar, we often regard the brand-new year as a good time for fresh starts, particularly in relation to wiser, healthier practices.

Bad habits can be incredibly difficult to shake. We may want to recommit to a more positive lifestyle, but a resolution to change works only if we change.

Unfortunately, when our resolve doesn’t quite match our good intentions, we may find ourselves making the same commitment over and over again. For instance, the resolution to diet evaporates the minute we start digging in the snack cabinet, looking for anything resembling cookies. But the next morning (perhaps when we catch sight of the scale), we renew our determination to diet in earnest.

Habits change through a consistent commitment to make right choices. Christians can experience continuous growth through dedicated obedience to God and His precepts, which point us to the best choices for our lives.

The Bible encourages us on our path to transformation in the following ways: n We are to be living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to the Lord; transformation occurs through the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2). n By making every thought obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), we learn to focus our attention on godly living. n We can rest assured that no Questions for Reflection temptation of ours is unfamil- 1. What are the hardest habits for you to break? iar to Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11; Ask the Lord to take those fleshly desires from 1 Cor. 10:13). By following His you today. example of applying scriptural 2. We can pray that God would keep our minds truth to life’s problems, we obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Think of past defeat the Tempter. situations where such a prayer might have n Whenever we fall into old changed the outcome. patterns, repentance and a fresh resolve to persevere will quickly get us back on track. Remember, you are reconciled to Christ (Col. 1:21-23) and can never wander beyond His reach. n Nothing—no person, circumstance, or evil spirit—can overcome Christ’s power, which is available to everyone who trusts Him as Savior. This divine power enables each believer to be victorious (Rom. 8:31-39).

Habits change through a consistent commitment to make right choices.”

www.intouch.org

| 11

c 12

|

December 2008 In Touch

come

closer Is it possible to distinctly hear the voice of God? Author John Eldredge thinks it is— and not just on special occasions. byeringieschen

“God told me…”Some of us say this almost as often

as we say “anyway”—and some of us wouldn’t dream of declaring something so audacious.

At one extreme, there’s the danger of seeing God as a sort of holy horoscope or personal Dear Abby-search engine, on hand to give divine advice at the push of a button (and affirm our exciting future!). At the opposite extreme, we risk pushing Him out of our daily lives. Since He already gave us the Bible, we assume, it’s too much to expect the Almighty to speak directly to us personally.

So how can we get a balanced perspective on such a sensitive topic? Counselor and author John Eldredge spent a year exploring this question—and writing about his ensuing journey. In Touch recently caught up with him to discuss what he learned about hearing God’s voice.

ITM: Many people think the only reliable way to hear from God is through the Bible. They’re dubious about claims from those who say they hear directly from Him. John Eldredge: Let me begin by saying this: Of course God speaks to us through the Bible—we should run anything that comes our way through its grid. But this concern usually has partly to do with a person wondering, Are you diminishing my relationship with

www.intouch.org

| 13

God? Because I haven’t experienced what you’re talking about. I don’t want to diminish anyone’s faith or the role of Scripture in our lives. I simply want to say that there’s an invitation to more.

The irony of the theological objection is that the Bible itself says otherwise—it invites us to conversational intimacy with God. So this idea that He only speaks through Scripture is unscriptural.

ITM: What passages come to mind?

JE: Consider all the Old Testament stories of God speaking to His people. What are we to do with those? If we say, “Well, those are exceptions,” then we’re implying that what we read doesn’t apply to us. Why would God give us a whole book of stories about Him speaking to His people and then say, “But you can’t have that”?

Then, in John 10, Jesus repeatedly says that His “sheep” hear His voice and follow Him because they know His voice (vv. 3, 4, 16, 27). Hebrews 4:7 quotes from Psalm 95:7-8 to the early church: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

In Revelation, Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, and if anyone hears My voice and opens the door I will come in” (3:20 nkjv). What’s interesting is that this isn’t an evangelism passage— it’s written to the “lukewarm” church of Laodicea. John was writing Jesus’ message to believers: “Listen to My voice—I want to come closer into your life.”

The message of the Bible centers on this invitation from God to man. If I could summarize the whole of Scripture in two words, it’s Come closer. God wants intimacy with us, and intimacy requires communication.

ITM: How about the other end of the spectrum? As in, God told me I’m going to marry this guy I just met or God told me I’m going to win American Idol. How do you discern between His voice and your own internal thoughts?

JE: We all know stories of people who did some wacky thing because they thought God told them to. There are cults who use the Bible to back up wacky actions too.

But Scripture urges us to seek wisdom to balance what we think is divine counsel.

James 1:5 tells us to ask for wisdom when we lack it, believing that God will give it generously. I love Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church: that God would “give you the Spirit of wisdom

God w ants i ntimac y with us, and intimacy requires

ion. t a c i un comm

14 |

J ANUARY 2 0 0 9

In Touch

and revelation, so that you would know him better” (1:17 niv).

We hear better as we mature, but balance often comes through other people or circumstances panning out.

You especially need confirmation when the guidance you believe you’re hearing is extreme, like Marry Ted tomorrow or Sell your house and move to Afghanistan.

ITM: Many Christians have tried to step out on faith after they thought God told them to do something—and got “burned” as a result. Then the walls go up. How do you recover from something like that?

JE: First, you need to ask yourself what false agreements you may have made at that time—or any time you drew conclusions about your relationship with God that go against Scripture. The Bible assures you that you are loved beyond measure and that God will never forsake you. Sometimes it doesn’t look like that, and your personal experiences can lead you to some terrible conclusions about God or yourself.

What often happens is that we make agreements with the accusation that comes at us or the temptation to resent and mistrust the Holy Spirit’s voice. Or we’ll come to wrong conclusions like I guess I don’t hear from God after all.

These accusations don’t come out of a vacuum. The Scriptures make it clear that we have an Enemy who is a liar and accuser. He’s looking for opportunities to convince us of his interpretation of events: You don’t fit in. They don’t like you. You’re never going to be a good father. God has abandoned you.

When we’re struggling in our relationship with God, the Enemy is there in a moment, trying to drive a wedge in. He can’t do it alone, though, so he’ll tempt us to make an agreement. He’ll suggest a lie to us, hoping we’ll agree with his spin. That’s when something inside us thinks, Yeah, that’s true—God has abandoned me. Or, Yeah, that’s true, I only think I can hear God, but obviously I don’t. If Satan can get us to make an agreement, it further shuts down our intimacy with God. We all go through hard things in life, and many of the reasons remain a mystery.

I don’t know why I lost my best friend in a climbing accident. I don’t know why my

wife went through years of depression. But I do know this: We can’t leap to conclusions.

We’ve got to anchor our hearts in the fact that God is good, we are loved, and He won’t forsake us.

If you want to get out of that stuck place, begin by asking yourself, What specific conclusions did I reach? What do I now believe because of that incident (e.g. God doesn’t love me or I blew it so bad that I’ll never recover)?

ITM: So what should you do with these misbeliefs once you’ve identified them?

JE: The second step is to literally break those agreements. Something in our heart remains locked up until then. I’m talking about praying out loud and saying, “I reject the lie that God has abandoned me” or “I break the agreement that I deserved this to happen to me.” It’s as if you’ve been imprisoned by these misbeliefs—and to get out of that prison, you have to break those agreements that put you there in the first place.

The third step is to seek healing. The crisis points at which we make agreements usually stem from some level of pain, loss, rejection, or even a sense of guilt. It’s very important that after you break the agreement, you invite Christ into that pain, because it still needs to be healed. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and free those in captivity (Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18).

This is where healing begins, after which it becomes so much easier to hear God’s voice on a day-to-day basis.

The more you know Scripture, the more you know the heart and mind of God and the kinds of things He would say. You’ll also know what doesn’t come from Him. Revelation 12:10 calls Satan “the accuser of the brethren,” whereas Romans 8:1 says that there’s “no condemnation for those who are in Christ.” So God is clearly not going to say something like You’re an idiot or Nobody really likes you. www.intouch.org

| 15

Sensitivity in hearing His voice has to be cultivated. Do you know the sorts of things He would say? Jesus lives in your heart— that’s what Ephesians 3:17 tells us—so it’s not going to be an external voice you hear; it’s going to be internal. You have to start by shutting down the noise of your life so your heart can get quiet enough. Remember the story of the prophet Elijah hiding out on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:1-18)? God didn’t speak to him out of anything like the fire from heaven He had displayed the day before on Mount Carmel. He spoke in a gentle whisper—a “still, small voice” (v. 12 kjv).

Elijah had just called down fire from heaven in a dramatic showdown with Queen Jezebel’s prophets of Baal (18:16-45).

It was total victory—everything Elijah had hoped for. The people were awestruck by God’s power and bowed down to worship Him; the false prophets had been exposed and defeated. But then, that same day, the queen threatens to kill Elijah, and he runs away into the desert, fearing for his life.

In a complete turnaround, he went from bold, unwavering faith to feeling as if God had abandoned him. Between the miracle on Mount Carmel and his encounter with the Lord on Mount Horeb, he wasn’t really listening to God and thus, drew some extreme conclusions about his situation.

Likewise, many people come to God in a moment of deep personal crisis or high-emotion need, praying, “God, I’ve got to hear from you.” And then when they don’t hear anything, they come to the conclusion that He doesn’t speak to them. But that’s like trying to learn to ski by doing double-blackdiamond trails or trying to learn piano by attempting Mozart. To learn to hear God’s voice and cultivate intimacy with Him, you can’t just start in the midst of high drama.

ITM: So when we want to hear what God is saying about a decision we’re trying 16 |

J ANUARY 2 0 0 9

In Touch

to make, how does this play out? What if we’re unsure about what we think we’re hearing?

JE: It often comes down to the issue of surrender. When I ask God for guidance on a particular issue, if I’m not in a posture of surrender, it’s pretty hard to hear—or trust what I think I do hear. Here’s an example: for our family vacation, I wanted to go to this ranch where we’d had an amazing time the year before. I already had my agenda and was simply looking for God’s seal of approval. But what I heard was No, I don’t want you to go. I wasn’t in a place where I could receive that. It took a lot more prayer and talking with my wife Stasi before I was able to surrender to an answer I didn’t particularly like. Turns out, that answer ended up being a huge rescue.

The week of our vacation, a forest fire swept through that ranch. We could have been there.

ITM: That’s pretty huge!

JE: It’s absolutely huge. It’s about learning to trust God and yield to Him, saying, “Lord, I’m open to whatever You say, regardless of what I want to do.” When we’re in that place of surrender, we’ll find it a whole lot easier to hear God—and that’s when we start to experience His presence in every part of our lives.

Continue the conversation at www.intouch.org/magazine to find out how listening to God’s voice works in everyday life.

Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really.

Do you long to hear from the Lord and connect with Him on a regular basis? John Eldredge shows you how communication with God can transform your everyday life.

Hardcover | $22.99 See order form or visit www.intouch.org.

“

{building wisely}

Staying Current

m “

>>Reasons to Update Your Will or Estate Plan Most people know that it is important to have a will or estate plan. But unfortunately, many of us haven’t drawn one up, or what we currently have in place is outdated. A will or estate plan should be reviewed every three to five years—or with the occurrence of any event that would have an impact on the people or property included in those documents.

If one or more of the following life changes applies to you or your family, it’s time to review and possibly make some changes.

Having a current estate plan will give you peace of mind—then you’ll be assured that your final wishes will be carried out.”

Marriage, remarriage, or divorce Death of a spouse or beneficiary Substantial change in estate size or value Retirement Change of intentions for estate Change in executor, trustee, or guardian Relocation to another state Birth or adoption of a child or grandchild Child’s 18th birthday Marriage or divorce of a beneficiary Change in beneficiary attitudes n Purchase or sale of a business or other significant asset n Financial irresponsibility of a beneficiary n Change in estate or tax laws n n n n n n n n n n n

If you do not yet have written plans in place, or if your plan is now outdated, having a current estate plan will give you peace of mind—then you’ll be assured that your final wishes will be carried out for your family and most loved charities.

As a ministry to you, In Touch Foundation has an In Touch Foundation estate planning guide, A Legacy of Godly Stewardship, 800-967-2200 available at no cost or obligation. This guide will foundation@intouch.org help you take an inventory of your estate and consider all that is necessary for a complete plan.

To receive your free copy while supplies last, please contact us by phone or email at: In Touch Foundation, 800-967-2200, foundation@intouch.org.

This article is not intended to provide specific legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should seek the advice of qualified professionals in planning for the future of your family.

ww w ww w .. ii nn tt oo u u cc hh .. oo rr gg

17 || 17

familyroom

Mommy,

please

STOP screaming!

M

Being in control of your kids means being in control of yourself. | b y P e a r l C u m m i n g s y mom was a screamer.

I have memories of her bearing down on me, hair flying in all directions, screeching at the top of her lungs.

I don’t remember exactly what she screamed about, but I do recall the piercing shrill that made me want to be anywhere else at that time. I wasn’t really afraid of the scream, just immensely irritated by it. The louder she screamed, the harder I worked to tune her out. I decided early on that I wouldn’t be like my mother in that respect.

Fast-forward 20 years. I’m sitting at the kitchen counter with my 8-year-old, and he turns his incredibly beautiful greenbrown eyes toward me and says, “Mommy, I don’t like it when you scream. You’re always screaming.”

Surely he must be exaggerating, I tell myself. He’s only a child. I’m composed, levelheaded, and self-aware. But later in the day, my husband confirms the awful truth: I’m just like my mom. They say admitting that you have a problem is the first step toward recovery, but honestly, I didn’t even know I was screaming in the first place.

My husband and I have had an ongoing disagreement over the definition of the word “scream.” To me, it’s okay to express oneself loudly and with emotion.

He’s British, so for him, my display of extravagant verbal utterances is galling, not to mention off-putting.

Despite the mounting evidence, I rationalized, I’m just being me. I can’t reinvent myself for others. That may be

why God plopped Hal Runkel, author of Scream-Free Parenting, down on the couch in my office one morning. “What’s the big deal about being expressive?” I asked him.

“My goodness, can’t a person show enthusiasm?”

Hal patiently explained that if my emotions are upsetting everyone else in the family, it’s not okay for me to spew—even if I feel better after having done so. He also pointed out that there are many ways to “scream.” Most are non-verbal. When we sulk or turn our back on someone or become curt, we’re acting out of our emotions. The message we broadcast to the world is: CALM ME DOWN! Whenever we react to our children’s behavior by “screaming,” we are actually begging them to help us calm our anxiety. We cannot handle the fact that they refuse to obey, so we flip out.

Off-putting, indeed.

so how do I stop?

The first step is learning to manage your emotions. Who’s in charge—you or your child? You or the other driver? You or the rude sales clerk? “In order to be in charge,” said Hal, “you have to bring yourself under control.”

Identifying my trigger points helped me immensely in this area. After talking to Hal and reading his book, I figured out that I begin to raise my voice after the third or fourth time I ask my boys to do something and they ignore me. When that happens, I start screaming. I guess that’s either because I think they didn’t hear me the first three times or because I feel powerless.

And I’m mad.

There is, however, a better way. www.intouch.org

| 19

let your kids own what is theirs

Hal gave me an example of how he does this with his own kids: he gives them a choice between right behavior and facing the consequences. The decision is entirely theirs. This simple approach has worked a miracle in my house. I figured it would take a while to turn things around, but the very first time I employed it, I got results.

and it actually helped?” Hal asked. He told me about an incident when he saw his toddler climbing up the outside of a staircase.

One slip and the boy would have crashed several feet to the floor. Hal wanted to

Me: Alex, turn off the TV and come to dinner.

Alex: No response. Keeps watching TV. Me: Alex, you have a choice.

You can turn off the TV, or you won’t watch any more television this weekend.

Alex: Huge fit of rage.

Me: (somewhat hypocritically) Your behavior is inappropriate.

If you don’t stop, you don’t play the Wii. Alex: Beet red, sits at the table reluctantly.

I’ve done this countless times since that day. On a few occasions, I’ve had to revoke privileges—and that hasn’t been fun. But each time I do, my position as the parent is strengthened.

overcoming our reactivity

Of course, not every challenge with our kids is as benign as telling them to come to the dinner table. What about those times when they throw their food on the floor in a crowded restaurant or have a huge outburst in church? Laying out the choices may not be an option in those instances, but you can still remain calm. “Can you remember a time when you panicked and flipped out, 20 |

J ANUARY 2 0 0 9

In Touch

scream, but he didn’t. Instead, he closed his eyes. Then he walked calmly up the stairs and carried his son to safety.

Coolheaded composure has to be learned, though. Most parents are anxious about their children. Our anxiety is a testament to how deeply we care for them and how much we desire great things for their future. When we explode, we surrender the emotional controls and allow our anxiety to guide us. “If you want to be the calm influence your children really need,” says Hal, “you must realize that raising children is not about them—it’s about you.”

raising the white flag is not surrender

Before I had my first child, I read a lot of books about how to mold our children into the people we want them to be.

Some even suggested that the struggle for absolute obedience begins at birth and an infant’s cry should be tackled head-on as a challenge to authority.

The maternal feelings of pride that swelled inside of me when my boy was sassy and opinionated did not fit this approach.

While I knew he needed to be respectful and admonished him in that direction, I wanted him to be his own person—not a robot who had learned to take orders. A part of me saw his precociousness as a step toward the independence he would need later in life.

Listening to Hal’s philosophy on this has lifted my heart enormously. My feelings aren’t bizarre. And there is a way to produce a respectful child without controlling him. Hal’s practical approach encourages parents to stop viewing children’s resistance as a direct challenge to authority. “Your child is testing you in order to see if you can be trusted,” he writes. “He’s testing you to see if you’re dependable, stable, and consistent. And he desperately needs you to pass!”

When our kids test us, they are often waiting to see if we’ll take responsibility for them—and take on a difficulty that they don’t want to “own.” Here’s a classic example: Child: “I’m bored.” (This is the cue for mom to step in and take ownership of the problem).

Response 1: Mom takes the bait. “Bored?

How could you be bored? Why don’t you go upstairs and play with all those toys I bought you?”

If the child says he’s bored with the toys, Mom gets angry. “You know what’s boring?

Working every day to buy you those toys—

that’s what’s really boring!”

Response 2: Mom blames herself. She thinks, What have I done wrong? Does my child have enough stimulation in the home?

Is he getting enough attention and toys to play with?

Response 3: Mom overcompensates.

“Look, you could go outside, or draw a picture, or this, or that . . .”

ScreamFree Response: “Wow, you’re bored? That stinks. I hate it when I’m bored.

What are you going to do about it?”

I actually used this model when my son began complaining about homework.

“I hate it too,” I said. “You wanna skip it? I have a lot of other stuff for you to do.” You should have seen the look of horror on his face at the thought of facing his teacher without his homework finished!

Hal offers a lot of practical ways to stop “screaming.” Most of his advice boils down to parents taking ownership of what belongs to them and allowing our kids to own what’s theirs. And realizing that no child should ever have the power to drive a grown-up into a fit of rage.

A few weeks after my fortuitous conversation with Hal, my husband told me we had had the best weekend in recent memory.

“I don’t know what it was,” he said. “You’ve changed. You were just so peaceful and pleasant this whole weekend.” Funny, I never knew I was that bad. I guess we all have a lot of growing up to do!

Revolutionize family life.

Learn how freedom from child-centered parenting actually strengthens your relationship with your kids.

Hardcover | $13.99 Exclusive low price for In Touch readers!

See order form or visit www.intouch.org.

www.intouch.org

| 21

solvingproblems

I’m Homing in on 60, but

There’s never a point in your life when you’re supposed to quit dreaming b y M a r k L i ttl e t o n

O

ne night as we lounged in bed, my wife Jeanette posed a question, as she often does at midnight. “Honey, did you . . . ” “Yeah, I fed the cat, emptied the trash, and locked the back door.”

“No, darling. What I meant to ask was, Do you still have dreams?”

My nose was stuck to a book as I fought to stay awake, and I hoped she didn’t expect me to go into the lurid details of my typical dreams. They usually involved machine-gun fire, hulking mutants, and Arnold Schwarzenegger before he became governor of California. (Lately, though, Arnold has been replaced by The Rock.) I said, “Sure. But I don’t remember most of them when I wake up.”

She shook her head. “No, I mean goal-dreams, hope-dreams. Those kinds of dreams.”

For the first time, I perked up at the thought of one of our late-night conversations. She’s always trying to find out what really goes on inside my head. I’ve tried to tell her many times that at midnight, nothing goes on inside my head, unless it involves the World Series, a sale at Home Depot, or a romantic reason to stay awake. “Sure, I have lots of them,” I finally answered with a yawn. “Of course, they’ve changed over the years.”

She propped herself on an elbow and gazed at me with her mysterious green

eyes. “Tell me about them.”

I thought way back. “When I was about six years old, I dreamed of becoming Superman.”

“Really. Why?” “Well, I wanted to fly. And also have X-ray vision.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I wanted to be able to see through walls to watch people inside without them knowing. And fly. That just seemed like the greatest thing ever.”

Jeanette shook her head with amazement and gave me a Look.

I went on to catalog my other dreams.

There was the one about being a middle linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles and sacking six quarterbacks in a row at the Super Bowl. Then there was the all-important vision of marrying the love of my life (which, I quickly assured her, had been fulfilled). And the one about being pastor of a mega-church, speaking all over the world to enormous crowds, and even having a radio ministry like some of the pastors I revered.

Finally, I remembered The Big One. “It started in late high school and college. I really got into poetry—not sure why. But I dreamed of being a poet, winning the Pulitzer Prize, and becoming the Poet Laureate of the U.S.A. As I got into writing nonfiction and then fiction, I longed to www.intouch.org

| 23

How do you begin to claim—and realign yourself

author a New York Times bestseller.”

“You writers certainly shoot high.”

“I also dreamed about winning the Nobel Prize for Literature (and several Oscars for screenplays based on my best-selling novels), attending a state dinner in my honor at the White House, and having my picture taken with The Rock.“ “The Rock?”

“Some wrestler guy who shoots out the midriffs of hulking mutants in his movies.”

She rolled her eyes. “Do you ever think in realistic, it’s-possible terms?”

“Well, what should I say? ‘Yes, I hope my next book sells 17 copies. I long for several of those buyers to actually read a few pages.

I even dream of reading a chapter or two for diners at Joe’s Crab Shack on all-youcan-eat shrimp night.’ Is that what you think I should want?”

“Okay, okay. I’ll admit, it’s good to dream big. So that’s still your dream— that bestseller?”

“Yeah, I guess. Do you think it will happen?”

“You never know, honey,” she said, touching a finger to my nose. “We serve a God who can do the impossible, after all.

Anyway, you’ve answered all my questions,” she said, turning over. “Now I can go to sleep in the happy knowledge that my husband actually thinks about something at night besides the World Series and Arnold Schwarzenegger.”

“The Rock,” I corrected.

“Who is he again?”

I sank down under the covers, suddenly feeling miserable. “Just some guy.”

Dreams in the Balance Have you ever felt as though your greatest dreams were long ago laid in the dust of foolish early career musings? At 57, 24 |

J ANUARY 2 0 0 9

In Touch

I sometimes look back on my life and think, Guess it’ll never happen now.

It can be tough to approach retirement and admit that very little of what you hoped for has been accomplished. Then again, some of the great writers came down to their last years, lamenting that much of what they wanted to do had become reality.

Some of them actually did win the Nobel Prize and Pulitzers. So how could they believe they’d achieved nothing great or lasting? Remember Jack London—the highest-paid writer of his time? The first ever to make a million dollars in one year? Deeply depressed, He died an obese drunk.

If life turns out this way, why is it worth even trying to make a mark or build a legacy?

I deeply believe that without God in your life, such an outlook is hard to deflect. It’s like the rich man in Mark 10:17-27. When he asked what he must do to qualify for eternal life, Jesus told him to sell all he had, give the proceeds to the poor, and then follow Him as a disciple. Unhappy with the answer, the rich man went away incomplete and dissatisfied. The disciples wondered what had gone wrong, and Jesus told them: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (v. 25). Stunned by the hyperbole, they asked, “Then who can be saved?” To them, being rich, young, and powerful was the epitome of blessing.

Weren’t such people perfect candidates for expanding God’s kingdom?

Not quite. Christ answered them, “With people it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (v. 27).

While Jesus spoke with respect to salvation, I believe the same principle applies more broadly—to our dreams, hopes, and greatest longings. I think God’s still in the impossibility business.

with—the dreams God has for you?

Talk to Him about it.

Dreams That Never Die One of my favorite verses is Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” How can God make such a grandiose promise?

Is this true, or just talk?

I think it’s a truth right from God’s heart.

He wants to bring about the substance of our dreams in the here and now. Of course, dreams change shape and often expand as one’s relationship with the Lord deepens.

Take someone like Chuck Colson, who’s well into his 70s and still making a big mark on the world. At one time he had great political ambitions, but those were demolished by the Watergate scandal. Just before serving his jail sentence, Chuck turned his life over to Jesus, who then replaced those early dreams with the bigger ones He would later fulfill. Since Chuck founded Prison Fellowship over 30 years ago, it has grown into the world’s largest prison ministry, transforming individuals and communities for Christ.

I also think of Campus Crusade founder Bill Bright. When I met him shortly before his death, he was signing his latest book, even while hooked up to an oxygen tank.

But he was still going strong, organizing, leading, moving, and shaking.

How do you begin to claim—and realign yourself with—the dreams God has for you? Talk to Him about it. Revisit those outmoded aspirations you may have given up on, and ask if He has revisions, replacements, or new ideas on old themes. Thank Him for what He’s given you and enabled you to accomplish, and then press Him: “What’s next, Lord?”

Recognize which worldly ambitions compel you, and refuse to cling to them.

I don’t mean that God doesn’t want us to keep in shape, make good money, or have a

fulfilling job. But those are just peripherals.

If that’s all you’re aspiring to, you’re a sad case indeed. God has bigger dreams for you. They involve building His kingdom, leaving a legacy that will last, and impacting the world.

This struck home for me recently at a writers’ conference, where I was asked to talk about my very first published article.

I shared how I wrote about a clinical depression I’d gone through in seminary and how I’d had to work through serious doubts to rebuild my faith.

Afterwards, a woman came up to me with tears in her eyes. Six months earlier, she had lost her husband of many years to suicide. She said that hearing about my own past suicidal feelings had profoundly encouraged and strengthened her—she now realized that her husband’s decision wasn’t because of her, but because of the darkness inside that was overwhelming him.

I had told that story many times but never imagined that someone might be so empowered by it. I saw it as another dream come true—God was telling me, Okay, you aren’t on the New York Times list, but you’re having an impact only I can make through you. That was certainly more than enough for me.

I believe God has great plans for us all that extend well into our 60s, 70s, 80s—in other words, our entire lives. So don’t make the mistake of thinking your dreams of attaining the top-dog position in your company and then retiring mega-rich in a Swiss chalet (or whatever megalomaniacal idea you have) are all the Lord wants for your life.

No, He has something far, far better. Go after Him first, and He’ll align your dreams with His dreams for your life. www.intouch.org

| 25

byfaith

The detail is stated so matter-of-factly that it’s easy to miss. But as a mom who’s made countless trips to the shoe store (especially during cross country season), I was struck by Deuteronomy 29:5: “During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.” Forty years! Thinking back to all our brand-new shoes, boots, and sneakers that were beat-up in no time, I’d have been impressed by “forty months.” A big miracle was imbedded in that small verse.

Life is often that way too. You can go about your day oblivious to God working. But watch for Him, and you’ll be blessed to know how blessed you are.

It took courage to walk into the New Believers’ Class. Though I’d been a follower of Jesus for more than a year, the extent of my training had been one-on-one discipleship in a friend’s living room, and consequently, church remained unfamiliar territory. Alien, actually. I’d grown up with an us-versusthem mentality, and anything Christian was definitely a “them.” Eventually, though, I came across Hebrews 10:25 and felt conviction about needing to connect with other believers. That’s what ultimately 26 |

J ANUARY 2 0 0 9

In Touch

motivated me to show up—palpitations and all—to an Inquiry Class.

Imagine my amazement—and instant relaxation of every tensed muscle— to discover Cindy sitting there. Waiting for the session to begin, my old high school classmate and I briefly caught up on the intervening years and started a friendship that’s still going strong a quarter-century later.

Cindy had come to faith a bit before me, and I often joked that no matter what I learned on the journey, she was

always a few steps ahead. She would excitedly share her revelations about a scripture, about prayer, about God’s character. I’d listen and would often learn, but wondered what was wrong with me— why did I so rarely share the jaw-dropping amazement she experienced with each new spiritual discovery?

Then, several years after, I attended my first Christian conference. That evening I arrived home, uplifted from eight hours with thousands of believers. It was a novel experience for this New Englander, who had seen only small, picturesque churches, mostly from a distance. When my family asked, “How was your day?” the details erupted from me: the nuggets I’d gleaned, the great illustrations, my impressions of rich fellowship among hordes who genuinely loved God. My husband and kids, I knew, would be as inspired as I was—eager to drop everything and learn more.

They expressed this contagious excitement as, “That’s nice. When’s dinner?”

Deflated, I tied on my apron as I came to terms with a discouraging truth: The Christian journey, though walked in the company of others, is highly personal. Loved ones may rejoice with you over what you’re learning and feeling but can seldom “enter in” to the experience the way you can.

Yet over time, I came to recognize a deeply encouraging truth: The Christian journey, though walked in the company of others, is highly personal. Very funny, you think. How can the same reality be both encouraging and discouraging? Because it’s precisely in our most personal divine encounters—the ones so exclusively ours as to preclude anyone else from partaking fully—that we glimpse God’s profound interest in our unique life.

And one more paradox: Though we expect such revelations to be conspicuous (if not seismic), God’s personalized “love notes” are frequently quiet and subtle— miniscule details that easily escape detection but speak volumes when noticed.

Sometimes they’re “fluky” incidents we’re tempted to write off as happenstance; other times, they’re Scripture verses that scream meaning into our current dilemma while barely whispering to anyone else.

Back in my unbelieving days, whoever tried to convince me that I was loved by the Creator would receive a stock reply: “I’m small potatoes. Why would He care about me?” And truly, we are infinitesimal compared to infinite God. But it’s a mistake to assume He’s beyond shooting a blessing—with pinpoint accuracy—to our smallest need or desire.

Cindy appearing in the Inquiry Class was exactly that: Big God letting little me know He cared about my discomfort (not to mention my Christian growth), even without my telling Him (Isa. 65:24). And I’m enormously grateful, not just that He provided for me, but also that He was patient about my realizing it. You see, I missed His “love note” that day, casually dismissing the tailor-made blessing as simply a delightful “coincidence.” It’s taken lots of hindsight perspective on my journey-so-far to realize the largeness of that “small” gift. God saw beyond my momentary need to a far greater one I couldn’t begin to grasp in my young faith.

He knew I would need someone comfortable and trustworthy—another mom with issues like my own—to walk alongside and even a few steps ahead to coax me along, challenge me, and continually point me to Jesus.

So watch for big blessings with your name on them. Because small potatoes aren’t small—not to God. www.intouch.org

| 27

mightyinspirit

What Barnabas Understood About

The

Iran into

a Person’s

Spiritual Potential

Optimist

by Linda Canup

I ran into the mothers of some girls from my ninth-grade Sunday school class the other day. During our conversation, they commented on the behavior of some “other girls.”

Apparently the teens were hanging around the wrong people and getting into things they shouldn’t.

I couldn’t tell if they were gossiping or showing genuine concern. “Um, should I ask who these girls are?” I asked. “Maybe I’m naïve, but I tend to think the best of them.”

One mom answered, “I think it’s better if you don’t know. They need you to think the best about them.”

I didn’t really understand at the time what was meant by “they need you to think the best of them.” Was it preferable for me to be left in the dark?

The conversation immediately came to mind as I was reading about Barnabas, a believer who seemed to think the best of people. Many remember Barnabas as the great benefactor of Acts 4:36 whose altruistic gift contrasted with Ananias and Sapphira’s deception. However, there’s more to Joseph the Levite from Cyprus—a.k.a. Barnabas— than his spirit of generosity. The apostles gave him that nickname meaning “Son of Encouragement” long before his philanthropic notoriety.

28 |

J ANUARY 2 0 0 9

In Touch

AN ADVOCATE Barnabas is not renowned for a convicting gospel sermon or a compelling apologetic of Christianity. However, he played a crucial supporting role in the life of one great defender of the faith.

Saul (whom we’ll call by his second name, Paul, for clarity’s sake) saw Jesus on the road to Damascus and then proclaimed His gospel everywhere he went. But when he arrived in Jerusalem, his infamous past as a persecutor of the faith preceded him, and the believers there suspected he was a fraud.

I wonder if Paul was planning to accept their rejection as the consequence of his past actions. For he had earned their cold reception: the new convert had persecuted Christians—the same kind of people he was now trying to befriend. And while he may not actually have hurled a rock at their recently martyred friend Stephen, he had strongly supported the murder (Acts 8:1).

But Barnabas placed his good reputation on the line and stood up for Paul before the apostles of Jerusalem. He defended the new convert’s faith by focusing on the fact that Jesus had appeared supernaturally to Paul, which resulted in his dramatic character change. The man who once harassed people for preaching Christ was now proclaiming the gospel, too, and facing the same persecution he used to inflict upon others because of it (Acts 9:23-25).

To Barnabas, it was clear—the Holy Spirit had changed Paul’s heart, and he was a new man.

The last person Christ-followers in Jerusalem expected to see saved from sin was Paul. His heart had been too hard; he had done too much evil. If it were up to Paul to change his own life, he wouldn’t have been able to do it. But Barnabas understood that salvation wasn’t about Paul’s ability to reform his own life;

instead, it was about Jesus’ ability to take the Christians’ worst enemy and turn him into an MVP for their team.

A FREEDOM FIGHTER As it turns out, though, God wanted not only persecutors like Paul on His team, but heathens like the Gentiles as well. And Barnabas was to play a significant role in making that happen.

These false-god-worshipping, unclean oppressors were the bane of Jewish existence. The Gentiles denied the God of Abraham, yet the Lord constantly used them to judge His people and test their faith. In short, there really wasn’t much for the Jews to like about the unbelievers.

Still, God was not willing for any to perish (2 Peter 3:9), so first through Peter and then through other teachers, He gave His gift of salvation to the Gentiles as well. Curious, the believers in Jerusalem sent their trusted friend Barnabas to investigate the rumors of the Holy Spirit moving in the lives of the Greeks in Antioch (Acts 11:22). From there, Barnabas traveled for several years and witnessed the Lord change Gentile hearts across the region (Acts 13:48).

But when he returned to Antioch, he started to hear some disturbing news.

Some were teaching that the Gentiles needed to observe the Mosaic law and undergo circumcision in order to be saved.

Barnabas accompanied Paul to Jerusalem to debate the issue along with other church leaders and apostles.

At the council in Jerusalem, the two traveling missionaries testified to the work of Christ in the Gentiles. They explained how they saw the converted exhibit the same signs and wonders they themselves had received from the Holy Spirit— without the Gentiles first acknowledging the Mosaic law.

Barnabas played witness for the defense, www.intouch.org

| 29

ncourager What is more encouraging than a person who sees the best in you?

promoting the liberty believers have in Christ—including freedom from legalism, and perhaps from a little prejudice as well.

He believed there was no need to first become Jewish, “get your life straight,” or do anything else in order to be saved.

Simply put, he believed in salvation by faith in Christ, not by our own works.1

A GIVER OF SECOND CHANCES Unfortunately, the dynamic duo of Paul and Barnabas eventually parted ways—and probably as peacefully as two Christians could, considering the circumstances.

Today, we look back to their disagreement in Acts 15:39 as one way Christ-followers can handle the situation when they come to an impasse.

Paul and Barnabas were ready to set out together on their second missionary journey when Barnabas said he wanted to take his cousin Mark along. But Mark had deserted them and their cause in Pamphylia, and Paul didn’t want a quitter on their team (v. 38).

30 |

J ANUARY 2 0 0 9

In Touch

Again, Barnabas was thinking the best about someone. Just like our loving Father, who gives us opportunity after opportunity to change our ways, Barnabas was willing to give Mark a second chance. As Bible scholar A. T. Robertson says, “One’s judgment may go with Paul, but one’s heart goes with Barnabas.”2 Perhaps family ties made the disagreement more personal, but in the end, Paul took Silas with him, and Barnabas took Mark to their homeland of Cyprus. Here, Barnabas drops off our radar, and whatever other good he did was to be remembered only by those who experienced it.

AN ENCOURAGER Described by Luke simply as “a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24), Barnabas chose to focus on the potential for good Christ could bring about in a person rather than anything negative the individual might do. He wasn’t naïve or ignorant about people’s faults, but I think he would have agreed with Winston Churchill, who said, “For myself I am an optimist—it does not seem to be much use being anything else.”

It’s this optimistic perspective, I believe, that earned Barnabas his nickname, “Son of Encouragement.” What is more encouraging than a person who sees the best in you? This attitude exhibited in my family, friends, and fellow Christians makes me want to be the person they know I can be in Christ.

So I’ll keep thinking the best of my Sunday school girls—because they just might need that kind of encouragement.

Unfortunately, Barnabas later fell into the legalism trap.

But it is to his credit that he was mentioned as unlikely to do so. Paul writes, “The rest of the Jews joined [Peter] in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy” (Gal 2:13).

1

Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, Acts 15:39.

2

“

{spotlight}

a “

FamilyNet

>>EveryDay with Marcus & Lisa

by Linda Canup

As I stand behind the cameras on the set of EveryDay with Marcus & Lisa, I marvel at how much happens in 60 minutes. The husband-and-wife team shares perspectives on current events, interviews a couple of guests, and hosts a cooking segment.

Whether they are speaking with policy makers, interviewing celebrities, or making egg rolls from scratch, Marcus and Lisa bring viewers an interesting and inspiring program that is always culturally relevant.

EveryDay is a daily one-hour talk show exclusive to FamilyNet Television, a network acquired by In Touch Ministries just over a year ago. The company strives to provide family-friendly values-based entertainment for its subscribers.

Although EveryDay is produced and hosted

by Christians, it isn’t only for believing viewers.

“It’s more than just a Christian talk show,” says Trish Ragsdale, the program’s Executive Producer.

“It deals with everything—the big things and the small things.” And those “things” aren’t always spiritual. Questions like “How do I pack for a long trip and stay within airline weight restrictions?” or “How does a girl dress modestly for the prom?” are considered, alongside issues of faith.

People from a wide range of religious backgrounds appear on the show. Yet the issues they discuss inevitably relate to a Christian worldview. “Just when you assume a guest won’t talk about faith, that person says something that really resonates with Christians,” says Marcus.

“They notice that we’re doing television and we’re doing it with quality, but there’s something different,” says Lisa. And that difference is what makes EveryDay unlike any of the other news and lifestyle shows on TV. On the show, you’ll see insightful and uplifting interviews. Marcus and Lisa will also introduce you to invaluable resources for your family—including helpful tips for the kitchen, home organization, technology, financial planning, gardening, decorating, and much more.

“When people watch EveryDay, I hope they get a glimpse into their own life, laugh at themselves a bit, and maybe learn something new they can use,” explains Marcus.

It’s more than just a Christian talk show; it deals with everything—the big things and the small things.”

Visit www.familynet.com to learn more about FamilyNet and EveryDay with Marcus & Lisa.

www.intouch.org

| 31

1

Thursday

Answered Prayer

READ | Matthew 7:7-11 n His Word, our Father commands us to pray continually (1 Thess. 5:17). And He promises that when we ask, we will receive (Luke 11:9). Yet how often has silence seemed to be the answer to our prayer requests?

The Lord wouldn’t tell us to pray if He were not going to respond. In fact, He points out that any father who loves his children gives them what they need and what is good (vv. 11-13). As our heavenly Father, He will provide so much more. But if we want God to respond, we must meet three important conditions.

First, we need to have a right relationship with Jesus Christ by trusting Him as Savior.

But some people choose to live in ungodliness even after salvation. Scripture states, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps. 66:18 kjv). This doesn’t mean we can never make a mistake—God understands our frailty. But we must repent of all known sin and avoid continuing in it.

Second, we must make the right requests.

First John 5:14 reminds us to ask according to God’s will. In other words, we can share our desires while submitting our hopes to Him. Over time, certain yearnings may lose their appeal or give us a check in our spirit.

Third, we should pray specifically and with confidence. When making requests aligned with God’s will, we can be sure He’ll answer. | Our heavenly Father EARLY LIGHT tells His children to pray and assures that He will respond. As you present your requests, ask Him to show you if anything is getting in the way of His answer.

I

Jesus had to die

Though weaccepts can’t because God know what the new only a perfect sacrifice year will bring, our as payment for sin. omniscient God sees received allHave 365 you days.

And He Him as your Savior? has a good purpose for everything He allows in a believer’s life.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 1-4

2

Friday

The Weekend

Effective Prayer

READ | Mark 11:24-25

Discouragement— What Is It?

ohn 14:14 reads, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” People sometimes interpret this to mean that any request ending with the words “in Jesus’ name, amen” will automatically be fulfilled.

Yet basing our entire concept of prayer on one isolated verse would lead to a skewed perspective. It is also important to consider . . .

Our Fellowship With God. For God to hear and answer prayers, we must first be saved from our sin through the redeeming blood of Jesus. Once we have trusted Christ as Savior, God will hear us only when we walk in righteousness before Him. Of course, He understands our weakness and doesn’t expect perfection. But if we knowingly continue in sin and fail to repent, He will not listen.

Our Request. For some people, ending prayers with “In Jesus’ name, amen” can seem like a magic charm, but nothing is able to force the Lord’s hand. This saying did originate from a good motive, though: the desire to request only what is consistent with Jesus’ character. When we ask, we should pray with faith, believing that God is able and will do whatever is in His will. And we should readily submit our desires to Him. Our Motive. The Lord won’t say yes to prayer that will hurt us or His purpose. When we bring supplications before Him, it is important to check our motive. Is our goal to glorify God and let others see Him in us? Or is our motive selfish, greedy, or impure?

E A R L Y L I G H T | Our heavenly Father tells us to pray. And He will answer when our hearts are pure.

READ | Joshua 1:7 ecause we consider certain emotions and behaviors harmless, we don’t pay much attention to them. In fact, we regard some attitudes as so “normal” that we just assume everyone feels them from time to time. Yet, if we look beneath the surface, we’ll discover hidden danger and realize the situation is different from the way it appears. One good example is discouragement.

A lot of people view discouragement and disappointment as the same thing, but this is a misconception. Disappointment is an emotional response to a failed expectation, whereas discouragement is the spoiled fruit that results from unresolved disappointment.

Since we cannot experience perfect success every single time we try something, there’s no way to avoid all disappointments in life.

However, we can avoid discouragement; it is a choice that we make when we decide whether or not we will allow our times of disappointment to destroy our confidence.

And that’s exactly what discouragement is—a complete lack of confidence, a feeling of dismay, and a loss of motivation regarding something that brings fulfillment and purpose.

Think about the very word “discourage.” The prefix “dis-” means “without.” So, to be discouraged is to be without courage altogether.

E A R L Y L I G H T | Can you see how this is a tremendous problem for a Christian? The Bible calls us to be strong and courageous, trusting Jesus Christ for what we need. If you’re without this courage, the first thing you must do is ask God to wipe away your fears and remind you of His mighty power.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

J

Genesis 5-8

B

Genesis 9-12 www.intouch.org

| 33

5

Monday

Protecting Your Future

6

Tuesday

Come to a H.A.L.T.

READ | Genesis 25:27-34 ould you forfeit a double-share of your family’s inheritance for a bowl of soup? Esau did. In one impulsive bargain, he gave up his right both to lead the family and to take a lion’s share of his father’s wealth. From where many believers sit in safe and well-stocked homes, Esau’s actions seem ridiculous. But falling into this brand of temptation is not unique. Every person is enticed to sacrifice future blessing in favor of feeding current desires.

Esau had his priorities out of order. The Bible says he “despised” his birthright, but that does not mean he hated the benefits of being born first. More likely, Esau didn’t give much thought to his position—it was doing him little good in his current life. He lived dangerously as a hunter. So how could he inherit anything if a wild animal killed him?

Therefore, he placed a higher value on his immediate need for a full belly.

Esau’s shortsightedness isn’t all that different from some common modern scenarios.

1) When people trade family time for extra work hours, they lose the comfort of a loving household. 2) When men and women ignore God’s marital standard of faithfulness, the result is a damaged or destroyed partnership.

3) When someone rejects a relationship with the Lord in order to maintain a sense of self-will, he forfeits eternity with God. E A R L Y L I G H T | What is your “bowl of stew?” At some point, you will face a choice between future gain and present pleasure. Do not act on impulse like Esau. Consider your decisions carefully and seek God’s will.

READ | Psalm 51 ow many people have lamented, If I had it do over again, I’d do it differently?

“It” refers to decisions, actions, and conversations we’d like to take back. As King David mourned the sinful choices that made him an adulterer and a murderer, he probably thought about the righteous alternatives. Like David, we tend to make wrong decisions when we are ruled by our appetites rather than godly discernment (2 Sam. 11:4).

Foolishness of some kind often results when people give in to stress placed on body and mind. These “earthly vessels” are more vulnerable than we think. That’s why Christians shouldn’t make snap judgments when feeling hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (H.A.L.T.).

In those states, we are particularly at risk of making bad decisions with no lasting gain.

Craving immediate gratification makes for poor decision making. We need time to weigh a situation’s merits and drawbacks.

And we must consider potential long-term outcomes, particularly if there might be an eternal impact. Sometimes that process takes a few minutes, but in other cases, we might have to deliberate and seek God’s guidance for weeks or months. | Satan is always on the EARLY LIGHT lookout for a gap in the Christian soldier’s spiritual armor, but physical, mental, and emotional vulnerabilities prove handy for his cause as well. Do not give the Evil One a toehold! Keep yourself fed, rational, in good company, and rested. Then you are prepared to make godly judgments on the spot rather than thinking of them in retrospect.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

W

34

|

Genesis 13-16

January 2009

In Touch

H

Genesis 17-20

7

Wednesday

Confidence in Troublesome Times

8

Thursday

Courage in Troublesome Times

READ | Romans 8:35-39 ife is continually changing. At times I tell myself that if just a few pressing issues resolve, my days will be calmer. But as soon as those problems are settled, some new challenge always pops up. Even globally, we’re in a constant state of flux. The economy rises and then spirals downward. Gas prices increase and unemployment falls. A new conflict flares up every few months. Since we live in a fallen world, trouble is part of our reality. Life will never settle down to the point that we can sail along with uninterrupted ease.

Thankfully, God guides believers through times of turbulence (Psalm 23). He is the Good Shepherd who constantly abides with His world-weary lambs. Jesus vowed to His disciples, “I will not leave you as orphans” (John 14:18). And His promise was fulfilled in the person of the Holy Spirit, who was sent to indwell and care for each of God’s followers. Paul poetically described the Spirit as a seal placed around believers until they are called to their heavenly home. In other words, He provides a protective barrier against evil forces desiring to snatch us from God’s hand.

E A R L Y L I G H T | In the verses leading up to today’s reading, Paul defined his audience as the Lord’s children (Rom. 8:16). So let me be very clear that the promise of a holy protective presence is only for those who have received Jesus Christ as Savior. No one’s life will always be calm. But believers are assured of a Companion in the dark hours.

You can be confident that God’s goodness and love will surround you until you dwell in His house forever. (Psalm 23:6).

READ | Romans 8:28-34 ecently, two Chinese women shared their father’s story with me. He was arrested in a roundup of house church members and given a choice—deny Christ or go to jail. The man spent 20 years imprisoned for his faith.

I was moved to tears by this brother’s godly testimony. He understood that God was in control of his life, and that realization gave him the courage to please his Father regardless of the repercussions.

Romans 8:28 teaches that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love [Him].” But relying on that guarantee gets tough when we’re in the midst of trials.

The first few words of the verse—“And we know” (emphasis added)—provide a hint about how Christians trust the Lord to keep His promise. We face adversity courageously when we make a habit of finding the Lord’s fingerprints on prior situations in our life.

While God causes good to come from our experiences, He doesn’t necessarily initiate them. Psalm 103:19 says, “His sovereignty rules over all” (emphasis added). Other forces are at work in the world, but the Father’s power reigns supreme. Satan may touch our life with pain, but only because the Lord lets him do so. And He gives permission only when a situation fits His ultimate purpose.

EARLY LIGHT | Regardless of the tragedies we face, God’s commitment remains the same—He makes good out of bad, just as He has always done. Paul knew the promise was true, and so do I. Examine your life for evidence of the Lord at work, and you will be assured as well.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

L

Genesis 21-24

R

Genesis 25-28 www.intouch.org

| 35

9

Friday

The Weekend

Our God of Grace

Responding to God’s Grace

READ | Ephesians 2:4-5 race is God’s favor and love shown to mankind. We cannot earn it or ever be good enough to deserve it. To truly appreciate His grace, we need to comprehend certain truths about Him and ourselves.

First, God is perfectly holy, so He cannot allow sin in His presence. When Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit from the forbidden tree, their intimate connection with Him was broken. Since all future generations inherited their sinful nature, every person is born with a disposition that is bent away from the Lord.

Next, God’s character is just. As a result, He requires payment for all sins. The penalty He demands is death (Rom. 6:23), not just physically but also spiritually through eternal separation from Him. Finally, we have a merciful God who does not treat us as our actions deserve but instead extends His grace toward us. He devised a plan that would affirm His holy nature, meet the requirements of His justice, and enable us to become members of His family: He sent His Son to accomplish our salvation. Born as a human being, Jesus lived a perfect life and fulfilled the Law. He alone qualified as the one who could satisfy divine justice. Christ took our place, bore our sins, and experienced God’s wrath over our rebellion—all so that we could be reconciled to the Father.

E A R L Y L I G H T | God made this provision for our salvation while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8). Have you acknowledged your sinful state and received His forgiveness through faith in Jesus? If so, are you expressing ongoing thankfulness for His grace?

READ | Isaiah 6:1-5 he more we understand the contrast between God’s holiness and our sinfulness, the clearer the magnitude and depth of His grace will become. This knowledge will cause us to turn to Him in . . .

Confession of our sins. The prophet Isaiah, upon seeing God’s holiness, clearly grasped his own uncleanness. In a similar way, recognizing the Lord’s perfection will lead us to realize our own unrighteousness.

We may think we’re doing okay until it becomes clear that God’s standard for us is to be holy—without sin. Only through faith in Christ can we meet that standard. The first step is admitting we are not the good person we thought ourselves to be. Rather, we are sinners in need of divine help. Confession is also to be a regular practice of all believers.

Acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice. On the cross, our Savior gave up His life so that we might be reconciled to God. By receiving His sacrifice as our own, we enter into a personal relationship with the heavenly Father. He offers forgiveness of our sins and adoption into His family because we have accepted the atonement Jesus made on our behalf.

Commitment to His Lordship. When Isaiah heard God’s call, “Whom shall I send?” he answered, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isa. 6:8).

Because Jesus is our Lord, His purpose is to guide our life. As we grow in awareness of His grace, we will be increasingly motivated to live a life of obedient service.

E A R L Y L I G H T | Ponder the impact of God’s amazing grace on your life. Let your gratitude lead to one of these responses.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

G

36

|

Genesis 29-31

January 2009

In Touch

T

Genesis 32-36

12

Monday

The Blame Game

READ | Genesis 3:8-19 he oldest game in history was first played in Eden. When God confronted Adam and Eve about their disobedience, they began pointing fingers. The Lord ignored their feeble attempts to appear innocent in His eyes. He knew the truth and disciplined both for the part each played in the tragedy.

Today let’s look specifically at the first woman’s actions and reactions. Eve blamed the serpent for placing her in the awkward position of choosing between God’s will and her own. But he did not have the power to make her weak and unwise. She knew the consequences of sampling fruit from the Tree of Knowledge but decided to eat it anyway.

The serpent’s words tempted Eve, as they were designed to do. It was in her nature as a human being to feel an attraction to the forbidden. But the grief and pain that entered her life were not Satan’s fault. God held Eve personally accountable for her actions. She suffered because she disobeyed.

We can clearly see that Eve lost big at the blame game. Everyone does. Yet the activity is as popular today as ever. Some play to hide their weaknesses. Others want to cover up failure or avoid consequences. Casting someone else as the bad guy makes people feel better about themselves. But feeling justified for a moment is no match for the long-term satisfaction of following God’s playbook.

E A R L Y L I G H T | The Lord demands that people take responsibility for their actions, thoughts, and words. No one can force you to make sinful choices. Therefore, the time has come to declare the blame game over.

T

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 37-40

13

Tuesday

To Forgive or to Blame

READ | Colossians 3:12-17 t’s not my fault” is a prevalent attitude in our culture. To avoid responsibility for their own actions, people blame others: “I wouldn’t yell at my kids so much if my own mother had loved me more” or “I wouldn’t speak unkindly about my boss if he showed me some respect.”

Resentment wells up until the victim is blind to everything except how his life is impacted by someone else’s hurtful deeds. Then casting blame is easy. But God has a challenge for believers: Forgive those who wound you.

The Lord’s Prayer mentions several of God’s duties but lists only one for believers: to forgive debtors (Matt. 6:12). The metaphor of debt describes sin well. A wronged person often feels that the responsible party owes something, such as an apology or compensation. But by showing mercy to one who has sinned, you stamp his or her obligation to you “paid in full.” Reparations and retribution are no longer required.

Sometimes our wounds are so deep that forgiveness does not come easily. Remember that Jesus bears the scars of others’ sins, too, and His Holy Spirit enables believers to carry out this difficult task. While your debtor may have done nothing to deserve grace, choose to give it anyway, just as Jesus did for you E A R L Y L I G H T | When God forgives, He remembers wrongs no more (Jer. 31:34). That doesn’t mean that a transgression magically never happened. Instead, the Lord refuses to use past wrongs as a reason to punish His people. He set the pattern of debt cancellation. For the good of our spiritual life, we must follow His example (Matt 6:15).

“I

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 41-44 www.intouch.org

| 37

14

Wednesday

Are You Focusing on God or Obstacles?

15

Thursday

A Lesson in Church Building

READ | Numbers 13:25-14:10 he Lord gave the Israelites a commission to go in and possess the land of Canaan. The people needed a separate place in which to thrive as a God-centered nation.

And He chose an exceptionally good country for their development.

So at the Lord’s direction, Moses sent 12 men to spy out the land. What a surprise when ten of them returned with frightening negative stories. All that these spies could see were the obstacles to taking ownership.

However, Caleb was certain that they’d “surely overcome” (Num. 13:30), because he was focused on God’s promises rather than the obvious difficulties. He based his confidence on God’s words to Abraham: “To your descendants I will give this land” (Gen. 12:7).

The people didn’t share Caleb’s faith— tales of giants and fortified cities scared them. Ordinarily, those would have been obstacles worth fearing. But the Israelites served a God who had proven that He could overcome anything: He’d parted the Red Sea to facilitate their escape from Pharaoh. And He fed them for two years in the desert.

E A R L Y L I G H T | Focusing on obstacles distorts our vision. Problems seem to loom so large that we can’t see to take the next step in faith. In reality, if God has called us to do something, the only hindrance is between our temples! He has already planned a way around, over, or through any barriers that might lie on the path to fulfilling His purpose.

And when we, like the Israelites, give in to fear and refuse to move forward, we miss out on the great reward found in doing God’s will.

READ | Deuteronomy 1:20-31 n 1991 I preached a sermon comparing my church family’s situation to that of the Israelites on the edge of the Promised Land.

We desperately needed a larger facility and toward that end acquired land a few miles from downtown Atlanta. We had three years to complete two overwhelming tasks: to raise the entire purchase price for a new building and to ensure that the church was ready for occupancy on the appointed date.

What I told my flock that day also applies to individuals. God has given His people a commission—to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). The Father gives different opportunities to each believer so we all can fulfill His command in unique ways. Since He never flings a door wide open unless He intends for us to go through it, stopping on the threshold is disobedience. Sometimes what little we can see on the other side looks frightening. But if the Lord is calling, then we need to do what He asks instead of dithering in the doorway. He assumes full responsibility for properly equipping and guiding us to complete the task.

Which brings me back to my earlier story.

You may already know how it ends: God provided every cent—no bank loan was necessary—and the building was completed on time. From that new home base, the ministry expanded in our city and across the globe. | Are you standing in EARLY LIGHT a doorway, too scared to move on? Step forward in faith. God made the opportunity, and He is faithful to see you safely through it, regardless of the obstacles.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

T

38

|

Genesis 45-47

January 2009

In Touch

I

Genesis 48-50

16

Friday

The Weekend

Life Before Grace

Grace on Display

READ | Ephesians 2:1-3 race is the unmerited love that God shows to sinful people. He expressed this love through the sacrificial death of His Son. It becomes ours when we confess that we are sinners and receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. Because of grace, we are forgiven

by God and adopted into His family.

Today’s passage describes our life before grace. First, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. This means that every one of us is born with a deadness to the things of God— we come into this world with no spiritual life. Our nature leans away from the Lord and toward ourselves. Secondly, our thinking and behavior follow the world’s, which, according to the Scriptures, is under Satan’s control. His plan always opposes God’s and leads us to rebel against divine commands.

Before encountering grace, the apostle Paul was very religious but blind to God’s perspective and plan. He actively opposed those who followed Christ (Acts 26:9-11).

With a goal of destroying the church, he sought to eradicate the Christian faith, which he deemed false. He continued persecuting believers until he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6). There he surrendered his will to the Lord’s and became a true follower of Christ.

E A R L Y L I G H T | If you have not trusted in the Savior, then you are spiritually dead, separated from God, and under His judgment.

Like Paul, you may be very religious and yet lack a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

God offers you salvation today through faith in Him. How will you answer?

READ | 1 Timothy 1:12-17 aul described himself as the worst of sinners, and yet someone to whom the Lord had expressed His favor and love (1 Tim. 1:16 niv). Because of divine grace, the apostle became spiritually alive and a member of God’s family. He had a new purpose for living—one that would glorify his heavenly Father and help build His kingdom.

From that day forward, Paul’s attitudes and behavior were dramatically different.

Through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, Paul’s character was increasingly marked by gratitude and compassion. In his writings, the apostle consistently expressed appreciation for God’s blessings and urged others to be grateful as well. His words also reveal humility. A well-educated and influential man, he now counted all his credentials a “loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8).

After Paul met the Savior, his actions also changed dramatically. He cared deeply about those who were still separated from God, and he fervently desired to help Christians grow in their faith. For the rest of his life, he served the Lord by sharing the gospel, encouraging fellow believers, and meeting the needs of others. He accepted that suffering for the cause of Christ was a part of this new life.

E A R L Y L I G H T | As we read about the apostle’s life, we see grace on display. He was used as God’s ambassador to the Gentiles.

Through him, biblical truths were recorded for future generations. The Holy Spirit seeks to transform our lives, just as He did Paul’s.

Are you allowing grace to work within you?

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

G

Exodus 1-4

P

Exodus 5-7 www.intouch.org

| 39

19

Monday

Dealing With False Teachers

20

Tuesday

The Supremacy of Scripture

READ | 2 Timothy 4:3-4 n a certain town, there lived two foolish Christians. The first disregarded scriptural training, so when his faith was challenged, he couldn’t find the verses or words to defend his beliefs. The second imprudent believer felt too weak to make good decisions. But he sought wisdom from people with stronger personalities instead of trusting the Lord.

Along came an enthusiastic fellow with exciting new ideas about religion. Sadly, he didn’t have a faithful walk with the Lord, which made him a poor candidate to lead anyone in spiritual matters. Instead of grounding himself in the Word, this false teacher followed his own preferences, focusing on whatever pleased or satisfied him at the moment. His teachings sounded good to those two foolish believers, who fell victim to his ideology and charm. Though their ears were tickled, they were totally ineffective as witnesses for Christ, since God cannot use a man or woman steeped in fallacy.

In such a situation, Christians would be wise to follow John’s counsel and “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). We can do this by comparing what we hear with Scripture and by seeking the counsel of godly mentors. In this way, we will not be deceived by hollow words or erroneous interpretations of God’s Word.

E A R L Y L I G H T | Have you ever heard a perspective on the Bible that was too good to be true—or too awful, for that matter? To guard against being deceived, meditate on the Scriptures (Eph. 6:17) and maintain an active prayer life.

READ | 2 Timothy 3:13-17 lmost every sermon I preach contains an exhortation to read the Bible daily and to carry it to church on Sunday. I repeat that advice because scriptural knowledge is vitally important. You cannot adequately defend the faith unless you know God’s Word.

False teachers will use faulty interpretation and half-truths to lure believers to their way of thinking. The prime targets are Christians with no firsthand knowledge of Scripture—men and woman who listen to sermons but do not study for themselves. According to Jesus’ explanation of His seed parable, these are people without roots (Luke 8:13). In contrast, the seeds in good soil hold fast to the Word (v. 15). A believer’s roots must be sunk so deeply into Scripture that no false ideology can squeeze through. In spite of the world’s claims, truth is not a matter of interpretation.

Believers have a responsibility to guard against error. In fact, John went so far as to encourage his flock to shut out anyone who preached a message different from Christ’s (2 John 10). He saw no need to greet deceitful teachers. Note his advice, all you who think good manners require listening to misguided religious people at your door. It’s appropriate not to be their audience. Your task is to hold fast to God’s truth. | Deception will reach EARLY LIGHT your ears from many sources. You must be able to identify falsehood quickly to prevent error from taking root and strangling your growing faith. Study biblical principles so that you can confidently proclaim, “I know the truth because I have read it for myself.”

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

I

40

|

Exodus 8-10

January 2009

In Touch

A

Exodus 11-13

21

Wednesday

Times of Trouble

22

Thursday

Knowing God

READ | Psalm 46:2-11 uring this life, hard times are inevitable.

Some watch a loved one suffer and die; others are wrongly accused or mistreated.

Then there are people who endure crippling ailments. The range of human pain is broad, but there’s only one place of true comfort.

Today’s passage speaks of great calamities, some due to natural causes and some caused by men (vv. 2, 6). We often feel bewildered during such trials, but verse 10 tells us where to turn: God’s followers should be still and remember that He’s the sovereign Lord of the universe. In our world of cell phones and deadlines, it’s hard to stop for even a moment.

But the key to dealing with difficulty lies in trusting the One in control of all things.

Instead of trying to manage the situation ourselves or pointing a finger in blame, we should actively wait, watching for God to move and trusting that He will act on our behalf (Isa. 64:4). This involves taking time to be alone with our Father—crying out to Him, meditating on His truth, and listening.

Human instinct urges us to take matters into our own hands; in contrast, the Lord requires that we patiently and expectantly wait upon Him. He also tells us to surrender what we think is right and instead submit to His plan. Unless our focus remains steady on Jesus, circumstances can overwhelm us.

E A R L Y L I G H T | What is your response when trouble arises? You can choose to accept difficulty as a blessing by letting it deepen your relationship with Christ. Whether your current circumstances are good or painful, take time to be still before the Lord.

READ | Philippians 3:8-14 t is possible for a husband to live with his wife for 50 years, eat at the same table, and be aware of her daily activities but never really understand her. In the same way, we can spend our lives attending church, reading books about the Lord, and even talking to Him without ever truly knowing our Creator.

The Bible repeatedly urges us to know God. That involves reading His Word to discover what the Father reveals about Himself. And then we need to spend time in His presence so we can experience Him in those ways.

For example, Matthew 1:23 calls the Lord Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Jesus promised, “I will not leave you as orphans . . . I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (John 14:18-20). Scripture also describes Him as our “very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).

In other words, God isn’t some distant, future rescuer (Ps. 32:7). He is here and involved right now. And not only does He defend us; He’s also the rock where we can find shelter, stability, and strength (Ps. 62:2, Is. 40:31).

Through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, the Father offers us salvation and a personal relationship with Him. Then He brings us on the journey of sanctification, where He uses life’s circumstances to teach holiness. And through the privilege of serving Him, we are able to know Him more.

E A R L Y L I G H T | Even if you have received God’s gift of salvation, it’s possible not to truly know who He is. Stop right now and ask the Holy Spirit to increase your knowledge of the Father (Col. 1:9).

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

D

Exodus 14-16

I

Exodus 17-20 www.intouch.org

| 41

23

Friday

The Weekend

The Riches of Grace

Our Riches in Christ

READ | Ephesians 1:3-8 cripture says that Jesus chose to become poor—leaving heaven and everything that belonged to Him as God’s Son—so we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). Ephesians 1 describes those riches of grace. We are . . .

• Chosen by God. Since we belong to the Lord, life has purpose, and we are eternally secure.

• Liberated. Every one of us was in slavery to sin and unable to free ourself. “The flesh” permeated our thinking, attitudes, and behavior.

We know this to be true because we formerly kept doing the wrong we didn’t want to do instead of the good we had intended. But Jesus broke the power of the old sinful nature so that we might be able to obey God. • Redeemed. Jesus’ death satisfied divine justice because His perfect life met every biblical requirement (Deut. 17:1; Rom. 6:23).

When we place our trust in the Savior, God considers our sin-debt “paid in full,” and we are at peace with Him. • United with Him. At salvation, we enter into a personal relationship with God. He becomes our heavenly Father, and we are His adopted children.

• Citizens of heaven. We have been given permanent citizenship in God’s kingdom and an inheritance that won’t perish (1 Peter 1:4).

E A R L Y L I G H T | Many of us don’t realize that we are rich, because we think in earthly terms—bank accounts and material possessions—instead of spiritual ones. While these temporal items provide us with comfort and pleasure, they have no eternal value. Our real wealth is found in the spiritual blessings we’ve been given through Christ.

READ | Philippians 4:19-20 esterday we began looking at the riches of grace that are ours in Christ. As we did, we began to see how truly wealthy we are. We have been chosen, redeemed, justified, united with God, and made citizens of heaven. But there is even more to include on our list.

Jesus told the disciples that His departure would actually benefit His followers—then He could send the third member of the Trinity to indwell each believer (John 16:7). Upon salvation, we are given the Holy Spirit, who seals us as God’s child, comforts us in our pain, and teaches us how to live righteously.

Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, we are becoming increasingly like Jesus, which is another blessing from the Lord. His Spirit transforms us from the inside out and produces godly fruit in our life (Gal. 5:22-23).

He also empowers us to choose righteous living and break unholy habits.

Another amazing blessing for Christians is access to the throne of grace. At any time, we can enter into God’s presence through prayer and worship. Resurrection and glorification are two other treasures for the child of God. Just as the Savior’s body was resurrected, our bodies will likewise be raised; in heaven, they will be made perfect, and we will be free from sin’s presence forever.

E A R L Y L I G H T | Our wealth in Christ far surpasses anything this world offers. Don’t let yourself be seduced by earthly thinking, which values comfort and pleasure above all else. Instead, treasure who you are in Christ and what you have been given. When you do, peace and contentment will become yours.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

S

42

|

Exodus 21-24

January 2009

In Touch

Y

Exodus 25-28

26

Monday

Created to Praise

27

Tuesday

Benefits of Praise

READ | Psalm 103 o you ever wonder why you exist? Dayto-day activities and worries pull in so many directions that most people seldom think about what the goal of life is. But our Creator made us with a purpose: to glorify Him (Isa. 43:7).

In His Word, God is emphatic that we’re to testify to His faithfulness and mighty works.

Jesus obviously considered this important as well—when teaching His disciples how to communicate with God, He began His wellknown prayer with adoration (Matt. 6:9).

Why, then, do we give so much attention to petitions but so little to praise? Perhaps some believers consider themselves too busy to spend “extra” prayer time praising the Lord. Others may feel awkward expressing their gratitude. Yet no excuses are acceptable.

Psalm 103:2 warns us to remember God’s benefits so we will humbly glorify Him. The Psalm also explains how to lift Him up with our words—specifically, we should praise God for His character and for His work in the past, present, and future (vv. 2-8, 19).

We can also exalt the Lord in other ways.

The Old Testament’s three primary words for “praise” refer to spoken words, music, and gestures like raising hands and dancing.

But we can also glorify Him through our actions, thoughts, and creativity.

E A R L Y L I G H T | Praise may be something of a foreign concept to you. But it’s the very purpose for which you were created. Notice how the Father is exalted in the Psalms. Then worship Him with praise as you spend time in His presence today.

READ | Psalm 150 onsider your most recent prayer to the Lord. Did you spend as much time praising Him as you did making requests?

In our selfish society, many people even attend church to get needs met—singing helps emotions, sermons “feed” the flock, and the choir entertains. Our own preferences can overshadow the primary purpose the Creator has for our lives: to exalt Him. Praise both magnifies and pleases the Lord, but we actually benefit from the practice as well. First, adoration of God modifies our estimation of “self”—it’s impossible to truly elevate God while clinging to pride. Instead, we come to recognize our sin, weakness, and dependence upon Him. As Scripture tells us, the Lord’s power is manifest when we show genuine humility (2 Cor. 12:10).

Next, praise appropriately humbles us, as it is a reminder of God’s greatness and our dependence upon Him. But at the same time, exalting Him strengthens our sense of assurance, thereby increasing our faith.

Then we are able to look beyond ourselves and our circumstances to see life from God’s perspective. And consider one additional benefit of praise that involves our physical bodies: when we focus on Jesus’ goodness, tension leaves and we find new strength.

All these supernatural effects of exaltation are possible because as we lift His name, God is present—Psalm 22:3 tells us that He inhabits the praise of His people (kjv).

E A R L Y L I G H T | Think about the Lord’s attributes and His work in your life. What can you praise Him for today?

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

D

Exodus 29-32

C

Exodus 33-36 www.intouch.org

| 43

28

Wednesday

God’s Blessings

29

Thursday

Attaining God’s Best

READ | Psalm 81 ur heavenly Father delights in meeting His children’s needs and fulfilling their desires. Yet many Christians walk through life with less than God’s best. How can we avoid missing His blessings?

Psalm 81 provides insight. The writer refers to a time when the Israelites missed out on God’s best. As we know from Exodus, the nation gratefully praised Him for their release from bondage. But they quickly forgot and worshiped other gods, complaining about their circumstances in the wilderness. This unhealthy pattern continued throughout the Old Testament, as the people would turn to Jehovah in time of need and then drift.

Verses 8-10 reveal God’s perspective: “O Israel, if you would listen to Me! Let there be no strange god among you . . . I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it.”

We, too, might have needs and desires that are unmet because of disobedience.

Today, most people don’t worship statues, as the wayward Israelites did. Our idols are less obvious—they might include a relationship, job, hobby, or anything else we put ahead of the Lord. Even making decisions based upon what others think can be idolatry; our choices should be based upon biblical principle and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

E A R L Y L I G H T | Ask the Lord to reveal anything that hinders your receiving His best. Listen carefully, and let Him help with the areas He brings to your attention. He is ready to guide you and bless you.

READ | Psalm 145:18-19 esterday we saw that idolatry involves giving something or someone priority over the Lord—and it leads to missing His best. Scripture also warns about other obstacles to receiving God’s blessings.

As followers of Jesus, we are to pray to our heavenly Father when we desire or need something (Phil. 4:6). Sadly, many of God’s children fail to do so. Some are “too busy” to bring their requests to the Lord. Others talk to the Lord in a general or mechanical way, without the genuine, heartfelt communication He desires.

Christians should come humbly before His throne, bringing requests with a submissive spirit (1 Peter 5:5-6). In other words, we are to yearn for God’s will above all else—even above what we think is best. It is important to acknowledge that He may have something better in mind. Then, as we faithfully pray, God may remove or alter certain longings so that our desires begin to align with His. Furthermore, the Bible tells us to approach God with confidence and faith (Heb. 4:16; James 1:6). This means that when we pray and seek the Father’s will, we should anticipate that He will answer. As Isaiah 64:4 reminds us, God “acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.” E A R L Y L I G H T | Our Father desires to pour blessing into the lives of His children.

Don’t allow prayerlessness to prevent His best. Express your needs and wants to God confidently and specifically. Then submit your will to His, and wait expectantly. He is faithful—you will see!

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

O

44

|

Exodus 37-40

January 2009

In Touch

Y

Leviticus 1-4

30

Friday

The Weekend

Sustaining Grace

The Sufficiency of God’s Grace

READ | 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 od’s grace is amazing. It not only takes care of our sin problem through the cross but also strengthens and sustains us every day of our lives. The Lord never wavers in His good purpose for us, nor is He ever thwarted.

His sustaining grace is the answer to our . . .

Difficult circumstances. Being a Christian does not exempt us from painful trials or unpleasant situations. The apostle Paul knew this firsthand. When he presented the good news of the gospel, some believed but many opposed him. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, he wrote that he had been in danger everywhere he went. He experienced rejection, beatings, and arrest but did not give up. God’s grace continually upheld and strengthened him.

Personal suffering. Paul also spoke about the thorn in his flesh, which caused him great torment. Three times he asked God to remove it but the Lord answered no. Why? Because the Lord said that His grace was sufficient.

It would provide what he needed to succeed.

Grace had already taken the apostle from condemned to forgiven and from outsider to beloved child. Because he experienced the undeserved love of God, this zealous persecutor of Jewish believers became a missionary spreading the good news about Jesus.

EARLY LIGHT | The apostle declared that he was content with weaknesses, insults, distresses, and persecutions because he had experienced the Lord’s all-sufficient grace.

He knew that God would continue to help him in every situation, and that regardless of his circumstances, living in the favor and love of God was enough. Is that true for you?

READ | 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 he Lord pledges to give us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

It’s a promise He always keeps. Yet when life hits us hard, we may be tempted to doubt and give up. If our faith starts to waiver, we need to think about what He’s already given us and then look for evidence of Him at work.

We should remember that our Father has freed us from sin’s penalty. Because Jesus died in our place, we owe nothing for our wrongdoing. He paid the entire price, so we now have righteous standing in God’s sight. At salvation, we each became a new creation and were given Christ’s righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30). Originally, we were headed toward permanent separation from the Lord, but now our eternal destiny has been changed to a heavenly home with Him. And God’s Holy Spirit lives within us as our constant companion and source of strength.

We also should keep in mind that even in the worst of situations, our Father works to accomplish His will. Joseph experienced betrayal when his brothers sold him into slavery, and later he suffered injustice when imprisoned for doing the right thing. In the end, he realized that the Lord had graciously used those circumstances to rescue his family from a life-threatening famine (Gen. 45:5). In a similar way, God uses adversity to develop our character and dependence on Him. And He works through trials to bless us and others.

E A R L Y L I G H T | Because of the Lord’s sustaining grace, we have access to His power, wisdom, and guidance. When we ask, God’s Spirit will help us fight doubt and provide the strength to persevere.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

G

Leviticus 5-7

T

Leviticus 8-11 www.intouch.org

| 45

Get organized for the new year!

Our exclusive expandable Life Principles Daily Planner by Day-Timer® is a refillable ring-binder journal that holds 5 ½” x 8 ½” pages. Features include: address and phone directory, organize-by-topic section, mileage and expense forms, storage pockets, and a Life Principle from Dr. Stanley or scripture on each page.

Now Available: 2009 refill pages for your current Day-Timer!

Life Principles Daily Planner Leather Planner (including 2009 insert pages) | $69.99 2009 insert pages only | $24.99

> >

Get in touch with the real you.

In this inspiring study, Dr. Stanley shows you that embracing your amazing identity in Christ can change everything. Learn how to unlock your vast potential and discover the way God sees you—as His masterpiece in the making. Study as a group with our discount for a set of six!

Discovering Your Identity Study guide | $7.99 Set of 6 | $39.99

> >

Celebrate God’s matchless creation.

Note cards featuring Dr. Stanley’s new photography showcase the unique beauty of the American West. A different scripture accompanies each design. Boxed set of 16 cards.

> Notecards | $12.99

Reach a goal that could change your life.

Read the whole Bible this year, and get a fresh approach to your time with God. Each day’s reading features Old and New Testament passages, Psalms, and Proverbs, along with Dr. Stanley’s application notes, spotlights on key verses or real-life topics, and more. If you have 15 minutes, you have time to dig into Scripture!

Life Principles Daily Bible Softcover | $19.99 Leather | $39.99

> >

Build your faith on a firm foundation.

This in-depth series provides essential truths for living a Spirit-filled life, finding your place of service, choosing a church, and much more! Includes six messages and a 120-page workbook.

A Firm Foundation CD series and workbook | $44.99

>

Upgrade your note-taking.

Quit taking notes on scraps of paper! Get the most out of every sermon, book, or inspirational message by recording highlights and personal comments in this quality leather journal. It’s a priceless resource you’ll refer back to for years to come.

The Christian Notetaker’s Journal Leather | $19.99

>

Free IN TOUCH MINISTRIES® PO Box 7900 Atlanta, GA 30357

US 800-333-5849 • Canada 800-323-3747 • www.intouch.org

Wall calendar / $12.99 Desk calendar / $8.99

New photography by Dr. Stanley captures the wonder of God’s creation in the American West. Quotes from In Step With God and a corresponding scripture accompany each striking image in this oversized wall calendar (11” x 13”).

Designed for compact spaces, the desk calendar is perfect for your office or kitchen counter (5” x 5½”).

Get in step with God day by day.

has always been

our magazine

NON-PROFIT ORG. U. S. POSTAGE PAID IN TOUCH MINISTRIES, INC

Free IN TOUCH MINISTRIES® PO Box 7900 Atlanta, GA 30357

US 800-333-5849 • Canada 800-323-3747 • www.intouch.org

Wall calendar / $12.99 Desk calendar / $8.99

New photography by Dr. Stanley captures the wonder of God’s creation in the American West. Quotes from In Step With God and a corresponding scripture accompany each striking image in this oversized wall calendar (11” x 13”).

Designed for compact spaces, the desk calendar is perfect for your office or kitchen counter (5” x 5½”).

Get in step with God day by day.

has always been

our magazine

Free IN TOUCH MINISTRIES OF CANADA P. O. Box 4900 MARKHAM, ON L3R 6G9

US 800-333-5849 • Canada 800-323-3747 • www.intouch.org

Wall calendar / $12.99 Desk calendar / $8.99

New photography by Dr. Stanley captures the wonder of God’s creation in the American West. Quotes from In Step With God and a corresponding scripture accompany each striking image in this oversized wall calendar (11” x 13”).

Designed for compact spaces, the desk calendar is perfect for your office or kitchen counter (5” x 5½”).

Get in step with God day by day.

has always been

our magazine