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The Living Saviour - Elim Bible Chaple

Easter 2012

To a Beautiful Couple

The world wonders when it sees a person who can unexpectedly draw large and unsuspected sums from the bank for some emergency.  But what the world has not seen are the countless small sums paid into that bank, earned by faithful work over a long time.  And so is the bank of the spirit.  The world sees the person of faith make a demand on God's stores of power and the demand is met.  The world does not see what that person has been putting in, in thanks and praise, in prayer and communion, in small good deeds done faithfully, steadily over the years.

I pray that you keep making deposits in God's bank.  
I pray that in your hour of need, you may call upon these. 

God pushes you toward a deeper faith

Thursday May 27 2010 12:00 AM Posted by Rick Warren "This means tremendous joy to you, I know, even though you are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold . . ." (1 Peter 1:6-7 PH). "When we finally come to a place where the difficulties become so bad, where we've reached our limit, where we've tried everything and exhausted all our options, it is then that God begins a mighty work through us." In order to build your faith, God will give you a dream; then he'll urge you to make a decision; but then he'll allow a delay, because in the delay he matures you and prepares you for what is to come. The truth is you'll have difficulties while God delays. This isn't because he doesn't care about you or that he's forgotten your circumstances; rather, it's one of the ways he pushes you toward the deep end of faith. As God delays, you'll face two types of difficulties: Circumstances and Critics. This is a natural part of life. God designed it this way because he knows we grow stronger when facing adversity and opposition. When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt into the desert toward the Promised Land, he had one problem after another. First there was no water. Then there was no food. Then there were a bunch of complainers. Then there were poisonous snakes. Moses was doing what God wanted him to do, but he still had problems. David was anointed king, and then for the next several years he was hunted down by Saul. Joseph had a dream of becoming a ruler, yet he was sold into slavery and thrown into prison on a false charge where he languished, forgotten. Imagine the difficulties Noah had building a floating zoo! The Bible says that when Moses died, Joshua was appointed the new leader. Moses led the people across the desert and then Joshua led them into the Promised Land. Did he get the easy part? The Bible says that when the Israelites entered the Promised Land there were giants in the land. Even in the Promised Land there were problems! God does this because he is building our faith and character. When we finally come to a place where the difficulties become so bad, where we've reached our limit, where we've tried everything and exhausted all our options, it is then that God begins a mighty work through us: ". . . I know, even though you are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable, than gold . . . ." (1 Peter 1:6-7 PH)

Connect by using constructive words

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

The third principle for connecting with people is to be constructive with your words.
Use your words to build people up. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (NIV). God wants us to take these words and use them to build people.
Did you know that the words that come out of our mouths are like a tool? Sometimes they're like a sledgehammer. We swing away without thinking and end up with a pile of relational rubble. Sometimes they're like a saw, cutting people down. If we keep using these tools, inevitably our relationships are going to suffer.
One reason we aren't constructive with our words is we don't realize how powerful they are; yet, I bet you can still remember things people said to you in a thoughtless way as far back as grade school or college. That's how powerful words are. They leave a lasting impact. So when it comes to your mouth, think of it as a power tool and be very careful with it.
Here's how to build instead of destroying with your words --
1.  Stop excusing. Stop saying, "I didn't really mean to say that." Realize that what you say impacts everyone around you.      
2.  Talk less. If it's a power tool, you don't have to use it as much. One of the reasons we get in trouble is we just talk too much sometimes. We need to talk less and then ...
3.  Listen more. If I listen more, I can understand people's needs.
4.  Start building. Think first of all, "What do they need?" How can I use a word of encouragement to build them up? How can I use a word of challenge to make a difference in someone's life? How can I use my words to build up the people I love the most?

Logan; The Sky Angel Cowboy

For My Mother

Proverbs 31:10-12 and 25-31 
A wife of noble character who can find? 
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her 
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, 
all the days of her life.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; 
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, 
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household 
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; 
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things, 
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, 
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (NIV)

Healing Heart and Mind

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. 
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, P. 55


Since it is true that God comes to me through people, I can see that by keeping people at a distance I also keep God at a distance.  God is nearer to me than I think and I can experience Him by loving people and allowing people to love me.  But I can neither love nor be loved if I allow my secrets to get in the way.

It's the side of myself that I refuse to look at that rules me.  I must be willing to look at the dark side in order to heal my mind and heart because that is the road to freedom.  I must walk into darkness to find the light and walk into fear to find peace.

By revealing my secrets - and thereby ridding myself of guilt - I can actually change my thinking: by altering my thinking, I can change myself.  My thoughts create my future.  What I will be tomorrow is determined by what I think today.
Daily Reflections May 1 

Joyful Discoveries

We realize we know only a little.  God will constantly disclose more to you and to us.  Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick.  The answers will come, if your own house is in order.  But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven't got.  See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others.  This is the Great Fact for us. (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 164)


Sobriety is a journey of joyful discovery.  Each day brings new experience, awareness, greater hope, deeper faith, broader tolerance.  I must maintain these attributes or I will have nothing to pass on.

Great events for this recovering alcoholic are the normal everyday joys found in being able to live another day in God's grace.

This year will be different!