Valley Christian Magazine Issue #92 by Valley Christian Magazine

Magazine Issue #92

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On The Cover: Jeremy Camp and Matthew West will be live in Concert on November 10 at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, TX It is the purpose of Valley Christian Magazine to be a magazine that points people to Jesus Christ. How to trust Him. How to do life with Him. Supported by local businesses, ministries & faithful believers. Valley Christian is a free resource for us all.

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Issue #92

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index 6

Lysa Terkeurst

Life of a Single Mom

Shattered Beyond Repair Battling Exhaustion as a Single Mom

10 Greg Laurie

What The Devil Doesn’t Want You To Do

12 Luis Palau

Viviendo Con Un Motivo

13 Steve Marr

Business Proverbs

14 Dylan Harreld

the Joy of Falling // Stepping Out In Faith

16 James MacDonald Don’t Look Back

18 Dave Ramsey - Dave Says -Get A Fresh Start -Forgive The Debt?

19 Time with Our Creator

Giving All Our Burdens To The Lord

20 Lysa K. Finley-Morrow

When In Our Music God is Glorified

21 Valley Christian Magazine New Reads -Irresistible by Andy Stanley - Overcomer by Dr. David Jeremiah

22 Dr. Leslie Gonzales

Walking With The God of Peace

23 Valley Christian Events! -Jeremy Camp & Matthew West on November 10 - State Farm Arena

24 Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez The Redemption Story

14 “Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!” - 1 Chronicles 16

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“Yet You, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8 (NIV) Are there any broken places in your heart and life right now? I know how hard that can be. And there’s this wonderful Christian story I could tell you. It’s the one about how we can pick up the broken pieces, glue them back together and then let God’s light shine through our cracks. That’s a beautiful story. But what about those times when things aren’t just broken … but shattered beyond repair? Shattered to the point of dust. At least when things are broken, there’s some hope you can glue the pieces back together. But what if there aren’t even pieces to pick up in front of you? You can’t glue dust. It’s hard to hold dust. What was once something so very precious is now reduced to nothing but weightless powder even the slightest wind could carry away. We feel desperately hopeless. Dust begs us to believe the promises of God no longer apply to us. That the reach of God falls just short of where we are. And that the hope of God has been snuffed out by the consuming darkness all around us. Over the past few years, I have been walking through my own season of dust. And if we could sit together over coffee, I imagine you would have some kind of shattered dust story to share with me, too. We are alike in that way. We’re united with our tears, even if our circumstances are different. We’re also united in our desire for God to fix it all. Edit this story so it has a different ending. Repair this heartbreaking reality. But what if fixing, editing and repairing isn’t at all what God has in mind for us in this shattering? What if, this time, God desires to make something completely

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Shattered Beyond Repair By Lysa Terkeurst brand-new? Right now. On this side of eternity. No matter how impossible our circumstances may seem. You see, dust is the exact ingredient God loves to use. We think the shattering in our lives could not possibly be for any good. But what if shattering is the only way to get dust back to its basic form so something new can be made? We can see dust as a result of an unfair breaking. Or, we can see dust as a crucial ingredient. Think about a plain piece of ice. If ice stays in a cube, it’s always just a square of ice. But if the ice melts, it can be poured into a beautiful form to reshape it when it’s frozen again. Dust is much the same; it’s the basic ingredient with such great potential for new life. Of all the things God could have used to make man, He chose to use dust. “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7, NIV). Jesus used the dust of the ground to restore a man’s sight. Jesus said, “‘While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes” (John 9:5-6, NIV). And after the man washed in the pool of Siloam, he went home seeing. And, when mixed with water, dust becomes clay. Clay, when placed in the potter’s hands, can be formed into anything the potter dreams up! “Yet You, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8). “He said, ‘Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?’ declares the LORD. ‘Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel’” (Jeremiah 18:6, NIV).

these verses. Dust doesn’t have to signify the end. Dust is often what must be present for the new to begin. I don’t know what hard realities have left you feeling shattered, friend. But I do know this: We can trust our God. We can trust Him with our dust. Our greatest disappointments and disillusionments — things that shake us and break us and make us wonder about everything — don’t have to mean all hope is lost. We can place our lives fully in the hands of the Potter. We can dare to believe He is making something glorious out of dust, out of us. Father, I confess I don’t like this — I don’t like dust. But I’m reminding my soul that dust is one of Your favorite ingredients to use when making something new. And I’m choosing to believe You are working right now to do this very thing in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY: Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidRevelation 21:5, “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” (NIV)

REFLECT AND RESPOND: Are there any places in your life that feel shattered to dust? Where are you hoping for a new beginning? Lysa TerKeurst is a New York Times bestselling author and speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has led thousands to make their walk with God an invigorating journey. In the midst of her busy schedule, Lysa simply seeks to glorify God through her life and family. She resides near Charlotte, N.C., with her five priority blessings named Jackson, Mark, Hope, Ashley and Brooke.

Oh, how I love and need the hope God has tucked into

“Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!” - 1 Chronicles 16

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Battling Exhaustion as a Single Mom by Jennifer Maggio

Have you ever been so exhausted that you slept so hard and when you awakened you couldn’t remember where you were or how long you had been there? It’s only happened to me a few times, in life, as I’m not a great sleeper, in general, but a few months ago, it did. At 6pm, I came home from work, was in a conversation with my sweet daughter about the goings-on of her day, and slowly I began to drift off to sleep. I NEVER do that! I slept until 8:30pm. And I slept hard! I couldn’t even remember what day it was. My little one had fixed her dinner and was relaxed in front of the television. I had a small bite to eat and within an hour, I was back in bed and slept through the night. The next morning, my daughter said, “Mom, you must’ve been exhausted yesterday, huh?” It was an innocent enough question, but it was one that left my self-analyzing more than she knew. “Yes, sweet baby, yes I was.” And the truth is, the better answer would’ve been, “Yes, and I still am!” Need help parenting effectively, managing finances, or securing emotional health? Check out Overwhelmed HERE! I had been burning the candle at both ends for some time. In fact, I was burning it at both ends and multiple places in the middle! There was no way a human could keep up the pace I was setting and yet, here I was, starting my day with an endless list of tasks and demands. I realized I couldn’t go on with such demands. The danger of exhaustion is real for all of us, but never more so, for a single mom, who is balancing work, kids’ homework, financial demands, parenting decisions, and so much more.

about Jennifer

Do you find yourself utterly exhausted today? Have you been battling exhaustion for a long time and simply don’t know what to do or how? Do you believe that it is possible to be wellrested AND a single mom? Read on:

Learn to say no. Learn to say no to your kids, your church, your boss, friends, family, and whoever else you need to, in order to protect your sanity! I’ve often found that many struggle to say no for a barrage of reasons. Sometimes, it’s simply because we don’t want to hurt another’s feelings. Maybe it’s because we carry guilt over a past decision and feel forever indebted to another person or just in general. Whatever the case, I can assure you that the word “no” is the best word you can learn to say. Learn to embrace the God-given authority you have in your home and tell your kids “no” when you can’t afford something, when you are too exhausted to drive them to the birthday party, or even when you just know in your gut that it’s supposed to be a no. There’s great freedom in that response, sometimes.

Put the phone down. I know this seems like such an insignificant thing to do, but it’s not. The advances of modern technology have afforded us many opportunities, including the joy of connecting with old classmates, enjoying photos of out-of-town family members, growing our businesses, or even meeting friends from other states or countries. However, the significance

Jennifer Maggio is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Life of a Single Mom, a global nonprofit committed to seeing no single mom walk alone. Having served more than 71,000 single mothers each year, the goal of the organization is establish support groups for single mothers in communities around the world. To date, we have worked with more than 1,500 churches & community groups to start or improve a single mom’s group. Our programs focus on empowering single moms to grow spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially, and parentally. For more information, visit www.thelifeofasinglemom.com The Life of a Single Mom Ministries is a global nonprofit committed to seeing no single mom walk alone. Having served more than 46,000 single mothers and 1,500 churches, the goal of the organization is establish support groups for single mothers in cities around the world, while also empowering single moms to grow spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially, and parentally. For more information, visitwww.thelifeofasinglemom.com.

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advancements of cell phones mean high levels of dependence on them. They are our camera, calculator, maps, and address books. They are our source of entertainment and communication.

the mom of 7 children, so she really, really needs the extra time. She is one of the most organized and relaxed moms I know! The credit all goes to her daily quiet time with the Lord.

The problem is that most of us can’t pry our eyes away from the incessant and constant scrolling and scrolling and scrolling through social media, or editing of photos, or checking the texts. It’s endless, and it’s exhausting. Determine to put the phone away for a set time every day and not to pick it up at night after you’ve gone to bed. You will be shocked at how much time you save and how well-rested you feel.

Evaluate your relationships.

Learn the art of life balance. The balanced life is not an elusive life for you, just because you are a single mom. There is an ebb and flow to life. Maybe you are in a time of parenting, where your kids are playing sports and that means lots of practices and games, right now. It doesn’t mean you have to frazzled and exhausted all the time. Be proactive. Create a car pool roster with other working parents who can help each other out.

Take time for the Lord daily. Too many of us complain about our to-do lists and the exhaustion we face and we use it as an excuse to not have daily time with the Lord. I’m reminded of what a dear friend said to me once. She said, “Jennifer, the Lord told me years ago that if I’d give him the first part of my day, He’d multiply my time.” The cool thing is that she is

Sometimes our exhaustion is related to people who are “sucking the life” right out of us. They are the ones who always take and don’t give. They are the complainers, the naysayers, the ones who’s glass is always half-empty. Listen, we all have family members or even co-workers who are hard to deal with, but we don’t have to give them permission to monopolize our time or take advantage of us. Pray about those folks in your life who need to be on the once-a-quarter conversation schedule instead of the every-day conversation schedule. Move them around accordingly.

Take the time to rest. Sometimes, the very best thing you can do for yourself is just remove everything from your list of tasks, call on a friend to come babysit, and just lay there in silence. Put your feed up, sip some coffee, and take some deep breaths. Meditate on God’s goodness and faithfulness. Turn the phone and tv off. Clear the schedule and simply “be”. There is great power in those moments, even if they are few and far between. It could be the very thing that fuels your ability to keep pressing on, instead of running on empty.

“Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!” - 1 Chronicles 16

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What the Devil Doesn’t Want You to Do by Greg Laurie

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

—2 Timothy 2:24-25

A 2013 report from the Barna Group revealed that when Christians were asked if they felt they had a responsibility to share their faith with others, 73 percent said yes. But the report went on to say that “only half (52%) of born-again Christians said they actually shared the gospel at least once” over the previous year with someone who had different beliefs. The devil doesn’t want us to share our faith because it’s a direct threat to his kingdom. He will do everything he can to keep us from sharing our faith. I don’t know about you, but I want to redouble my efforts to do what the devil doesn’t want me to do. You can lead people to Christ. It’s just that most of us haven’t taken that step yet. Every Christian should be able to share his or her faith in three minutes or less. Let’s say that you were on a plane and learned that all of the engines had gone out and the plane was going down. You have three minutes to talk to the rest of the passengers on the plane. Do you think you could actually give them the gospel in that period of time? I guarantee you could do it. You just get to the essential message. I believe that if we would do that more often, we would be leading more people to Christ. Please don’t say, “I don’t believe that I’m called to be an evangelist. I’m just trying to be a good example.” Good examples don’t bring people to Christ. Good examples, however, can open the door to articulate their faith so they can bring people to Christ. And good examples are what we need to be so that we’ll have opportunities to verbally articulate our faith.

Greg Laurie is Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif. He began his pastoral ministry at 19 by leading a Bible study of 30 people. Since then, God has transformed the small group into a church of 15,000 plus, one of the largest churches in America. for more, visit www.greglaurie.com. used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000 Riverside, CA 92514 Copyright © 2018 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

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“Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!” - 1 Chronicles 16

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Viviendo con un motivo -Luis Palau En las últimas 24 horas, más de 11.000 personas trataron de suicidarse. Según un informe de las Naciones Unidas, 1000 de esas personas consiguieron quitarse la vida. Y una gran porcentaje de tales suicidios tiene lugar entre la gente joven. Hace varios años un compañero de escuela de mi hijo se mató de un tiro en la cabeza. Tenía 16 años y era hijo de un médico rico y respetado. El muchacho no había mostrado señales depresivas inusuales. Sin embargo, un día regresó de la escuela y comenzó a llamar a algunos de sus amigos para decirles que se iba a matar. “Los muchachos no le creyeron,” me dijo mi hijo. “Pensaron que estaba bromeando.” Pero una hora más tarde el jovencito probó a todos que estaban errados. ¿Por qué? En parte porque sus amigos no respondieron de la manera apropiada cuando él los había llamado. Estos otros muchachos aparentemente creyeron algunos de los mitos referentes al suicidio. Uno de los mitos populares es que si alguien habla de matarse, en realidad no lo hará. El hecho es que los suicidas hablan del tema con por lo menos diez personas antes de intentar quitarse la vida. Es precisamente lo que hizo el compañero de mi hijo. A veces la gente simplemente escribe una nota y luego se mata. Pero la mayoría primero habla del asunto. Pueden tener planes específicos para el suicidio, pero a decir verdad quieren ser rescatados. Esta quizás es la razón por la cual la mayoría de los intentos de suicidio no son fatales--aunque pueden llegar a ser serios. La gente quiere saber que alguien se preocupa por ella. El suicidio es sólo su manera inmadura e impulsiva de llamar la atención. Otros de los mitos en cuanto al suicidio es que si mencionamos, precisamente, la palabra “suicidio” a alguien que sin dudas sufre de inestabilidad o perturbación emocional, sembraremos esa idea en su mente. Es falso. Cuando el compañero de mi hijo le dijo a varios amigos que iba a matarse, ellos debieron haberle tomado en serio, y no debieron haberse reído como si todo fuera una broma. El índice de suicidios va en aumento de manera alarmante--en todas las clases sociales y todos los tipos de personas. Un reciente estudio reveló que, entre los grupos profesionales, los psiquiatras tienen el índice de suicidio más alto. Y ellos son los que, supuestamente, ayudan a quienes no tienen esperanza. Cuando están pensando en la posibilidad del suicidio, muchos acuden a los cristianos. Si un amigo o conocido suyo le dice algo que sugiera intenciones suicidas, hágase de tiempo para ver a esa persona a la brevedad. No se deje engañar por los mitos sobre el suicidio. Tal vez su amigo nunca haya pensado en quitarse la vida, pero no tenga miedo de preguntárselo. Si su amigo le confiesa que por cierto está pensando en acabar con su vida, créale y actúe con rapidez, llevándolo a alguien que pueda prestarle ayuda. Pero no deje que la persona quede fuera de su vista, en especial si tiene un plan específico para el suicidio (método, lugar, momento). El suicidio no es un asunto para tomar a la ligera. ¿Por qué la gente intenta quitarse la vida? Hay muchas razones: tratar de llamar la atención, desear unirse a un ser querido muerto, enojo que se ha enraizado en el alma, pérdida de significado en la vida, enfermedades, soledad. Hágase el propósito prioritario de alcanzar y ayudar a sus amigos antes que las pruebas y dificultades de la vida los abrumen. Todos necesitamos un grupo de amigos que sea leal y nos apoye. Jesucristo vino para que todos podamos tener vida en abundancia (Juan 10:10). Compartamos estas buenas noticias con quienes están buscando significado a la vida, con quienes desean tener una razón para vivir. Nosotros la tenemos--Jesucristo mismo. Mostremos a quienes luchan con la alienación y la soledad que alguien en verdad los ama y se preocupa por ellos. Digámosles que en la la vida hay una razón para vivir. Luis Palau

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Luis Palau ya entró en la historia moderna como uno de los contados hombres que le hablaron a más personas en el mundo. Su mensaje fue, y es escuchado por más de 800 millones de personas en 112 países a través de la radio y la televisión, y tiene el privilegio de haberle hablado a más de 22 millones de personas cara a cara en 80 países del mundo, organizando, junto a un selecto grupos de colaboradores internacionales y con el apoyo de invitaciones locales, congresos, seminarios, charlas informales, conferencias y recitales-conferencia llamados “Festivales”. Copyright 2018 Used by Permission.

Do you ever lose your cool at work? Written by Steve Marr At times, all of us will become angry. The key is to restrain ourselves. A wise man keeps himself under control. Conversely, a fool does not keep himself under control. In addition, we must ensure our staff demonstrates appropriate restraint and does not lose control. Staff losing control will do foolish things. Keep yourself and your staff in control for business success.

“Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!” - 1 Chronicles 16

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By Dylan Harreld

Varsity Ministries

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. // Matthew 14:22-29

Stepping Out in Faith One of the most fearful things in life is failure. Failure can lead to doubt, doubt can lead to procrastination, and procrastination can lead to regret. I don’t know about you, but if The Lord is clearly calling me to step out in faith, I need to start placing one foot in front of the other. I don’t want to be on my deathbed and look back having regret at missed opportunities. Today we will be looking at an opportunity that I would be forever grateful to have. The opportunity to walk alongside my Savior in a place that no one else would ever imagine.

was “Take Courage!” Jesus literally told them “Don’t be afraid.” I pray that we truly take this text to heart. This is where stepping out in faith begins. While the disciples were in their boat being tossed by the waves and wind one disciple, Peter, took courage and replied to Jesus. Peter said “Lord if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” In one single word Jesus replied “Come.” Peter then got down out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. This is such a beautiful picture of Peter’s obedience and acknowledgment to Jesus. If you know this passage you know what happens next, but for one second can we focus on the trust that Peter had in Jesus? He was willing to do something that was deemed impossible. Peter accomplished the impossible by focusing on and trusting in Jesus. Think about the impossible things in your life right now. If you are able to focus fully on Jesus and step out of the boat like Peter, do you believe that with Jesus you could accomplish the impossible? You can! If Jesus can walk with Peter on water, He can walk with you in your darkest days. It all begins with a single step and before you can fall you have to take a step of faith.

In Matthew 14: 22-29 we see a picture of the disciples in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus then shows himself to the disciples in a way that truly tests their faith. In verse 26 Matthew recalls the disciples as terrified to the point where they cried out in fear. If you’ve read this passage before it seems almost comical of the disciples to be unable to recognize their teacher. How many times in our lives has The Lord shown up and we’ve been unable to recognize Him? How many times has Jesus given you an opportunity, but you were unable to see it because you were ‘too busy’ with life?

Focus:

In our text, Jesus spoke to the terrified disciples “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” We see the very first thing Jesus spoke to the disciples

Today, I challenge you to become more aware of Jesus’ presence in your everyday life. Our God is always chasing after us. He is always watching over us. Trust in Him and start to take that step of faith today.

// DYLAN HARRELD

If you’re reading this, chances are you are in a similar place I once was. You may not be an athlete with endorsements or sponsors. You’re probably not waking up from an extensive ten hour and twenty minute knee surgery. However, there is a good chance someone or something has taken you away from a specific desire you have. You may be in a place where you feel The Lord has left you. You’re feeling abandoned. You’re feeling forgotten. You’ve fallen and you don’t know how or if you can get back up. This devotional is meant to encourage, support, and help navigate you through the falls in life alongside our savior, Jesus. My hope is that you will obtain the tools to not only be prepared for the falls but to also receive the vision to see the joy in the them. Enjoy, -Dylan Harreld Age: 26 | From: Kansas City, MO | Favorite Spot: Backyard pools & big transition! Favorite Music: NF, Ty Brasel, Andy Mineo, Gawvi, KB, Jon Foreman, Cory Asbury, Needtobreathe, For Today, Beartooth, and many more! Favorite Bible Verse: ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ Romans 12:21 Hobbies: Family, Friends, Motorcycles, Adventuring, Coffee, Reading/Writing, and Preaching the Gospel! Instagram: @dyjaha | Facebook: fb.com/dylanharreldofficial All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. Copyright 2018

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“Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!” - 1 Chronicles 16

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Don’t Look by james macdonald

Even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. --2 Corinthians 7:8, ESV

Do you wish you were living better than the way you’re living right now? I believe all of us want that. At least I hope we do. I’d hate to think my highest and best days with the Lord have already happened, that they’re only visible in my rearview. And yet we don’t always clearly see the sins looking back at us in the mirror. Even when we do, we may not see the extent of

what we truly want, to point us toward the more abundant life we’re actually going after. Even if we may not really want to hear it at the moment. Are you willing to be that person for somebody else?

Paul was that kind of guy. He wrote, not just two, but actually four letters to the church in Corinth—the most worldly, problematic church in the entire New Testament. This group of believers, despite “NO ONE GETS TO A GOOD PLACE being a spiritually gifted and passionate people, persisted UNTIL THEY RECOGNIZE THEY’RE at being carnal, divisive, and filled with themselves. IN A BAD PLACE. NO ONE STARTS But Paul knew they could TO MAKE RIGHT CHOICES UNTIL do better. He saw positive, powerful days ahead of THEY’VE BECOME GREIVED OVER them. And at the risk of offending them, he wrote POOR ONES” to tell them—apparently in no uncertain terms—exactly what their sexual sin and the damage they’re inflicting on us rebellious spirit were keeping them from and how phenomenal our lives could experiencing. finally be if we weren’t always trying to accommodate our weaknesses. But don’t think he didn’t feel what you and I would feel after he’d challenged That’s why sometimes we need them about the way they’d been living. someone who cares enough, someone He doubted if he’d handled it right. He courageous enough, to remind us of worried he’d come down a little too

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hard on them. According to 2 Corinthians 7:8, he said he later felt some regret over it, “for I see that that letter grieved you.” He wrestled with himself, not taking any pleasure in whatever sadness or discomfort his words must have created in them. And yet no one gets to a good place until they recognize they’re in a bad place. No one starts to make right choices until they’ve become grieved over poor ones. And sometimes unless they hear a pointed rebuke spoken or written to them by another person—unless they actually hear in their ears the thing they don’t want to hear—they end up having a much harder, much longer journey to the place they most want to be. If you’re hurting for someone today—if you’re dreaming of higher ground for them, if you’re pained until they reach a level of change from which they’ll never descend again—don’t let your personal fears prevent you from moving toward them in grace and truth. You may eventually be able to say, like Paul did, “As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss from us” (2 Corinthians 7:9). Even the pain can do us all good.

Back

jo urnal What makes you hang back when God leads you to spiritually challenge someone else? Are you open to receiving a similar challenge?

P ray Father, thank You for being unwilling to leave my sinful actions and attitudes untouched. Thank You for resisting my foolish efforts at thinking I can shield them from your sight. And thank You not only for pursuing my heart through the conviction of Your Word, but also through people who love You, and love me, and want to see me experiencing the renewing power of Your Spirit in my life. May I be equally bold and prayerful for others as well, in Jesus’ name, amen.

James MacDonald is founding and Senior Pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in northwest Chicago. James’ teachings can be heard on Walk in the Word, a daily radio program reaching more than 3 million people across North America. Our Journey devotionals are brought to you by Change Partners of Walk in the Word. Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved.

“Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!” - 1 Chronicles 16

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Get a fresh start Dear Dave, I got laid off a couple of months ago, and I’m behind on the payments for a rental property. I found a full-time job recently, but it doesn’t provide enough income to cover my other bills and the mortgage on this property. The other day, I received an offer from someone who is willing to buy it for what’s owed on the property. I’m not sure that’s the best thing, because I owe $70,000 and it’s worth around $150,000. What do you think? Travis Dear Travis, You’ve got one thing right. You definitely need to get rid of the rental property. I’m not sure I’d jump at the offer you just received, but if I were in your shoes I’d slash the price way below value and sell the place. Right now you’re broke, and you’re still trying to play real estate investor. That’s not a good plan. I’d put a price tag of $100,000 on it, so you can move it fast and still see some equity in the deal. But sell it today!

By doing this, you’ll have a nice chunk of cash in your pocket, and you can get something of a financial fresh start — one that includes living on a written, monthly budget and staying out of debt!

Dave Says

—Dave

Forgive the debt? Dear Dave, Recently, I loaned some money to a good friend. He’s going to help me with a big home project over the next few weekends, so do you think I should pay him for the work or forgive the debt instead? Marvin Dear Marvin, First, I don’t recommend loaning money to friends or family. Once in a while, things may work out and everyone ends up happy. But in most cases, it changes the dynamic of the relationship. The Bible says the borrower is a slave to the lender, and there’s a lot of truth in that — financially and emotionally. The big question is whether you’ve already agreed to pay him for the work. Another consideration is how he views the situation. He may be looking at this as just helping a buddy, and he still owes the money. Ask him what his expectations are before you guys start the job. Just talk to him, and figure out what seems fair to you both. If you’ve already agreed on a certain amount, and the value of the work is close to what you loaned him, you might discuss the idea of paying back the debt that way.

* Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times best-selling books. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 8.5 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations. Dave’s latest project, EveryDollar, provides a free online budget tool. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.

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But in the future, if someone close to you really needs financial help — and you’re not enabling bad behavior in the process — just make the money a gift. —Dave

Issue #92

Giving All Our Burdens to the Lord Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali Heavenly Father, I come in Your Son’s Name to thank You for being all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere present, unchanging, and merciful. I am humbled that I can bring all my anxieties and burdens to you to be resolved. “Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain you; He shall never allow the righteous to be moved” Psalm 55:22. Direct me to understand and live the instructions that You have put in the Bible as to how to deal with the problems and difficulties of life. Your Word declares in 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” If I am carrying any burdens from the past which I can do nothing about, or worrying about ones that may arise in the future, show them to me and direct me to do what these verses tell me to do: give them all to Jesus. Pause for a few moments and ask the Lord to show you anything that is taking away your peace and joy and pray something like this: Father, I now give to You this list of internal and external concerns that I am carrying today… Thank you for the promises and encouragement in the following song:

All Your Anxiety by Lieut. Col. E.H. Joy Is there a heart bound by sorrow? Is there a life weighted down by care? Come to the Cross each burden bearing, all your anxiety, leave it there. All your anxiety all your care, bring to the Mercy Seat, leave it there. Never a burden He cannot bear, never a friend like Jesus. I bring this prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen. Time with our Creator is a Grandfather and Grandchildren team working together to help you with your prayer journey.

“Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!” - 1 Chronicles 16

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Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash

Favorite Hymns of My Life by: Lisa K. Finley-Morrow

One of the hallmarks of the Christian faith is the music crafted by people groups around the world for the express purpose of praising and worshiping God. Those musical creations can educate, express personal sorrow for sins, or exude joy for redemption from our sins provided by the death, burial, and resurrection of God’s only son, Jesus Christ. So that we may have that personal relationship with our loving Heavenly Father, Jesus reminded followers, as recorded in the gospel of John, that He was “the only way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Making perfectly clear that accepting His sacrificial gift was our only way to merit communion with God, He did not, however, declare that we all had to commune in song the same way or like the same kinds of music. This month I am heading to New York City to hear Texas’ outstanding men’s choir known as The Singing Men of Texas. Those men, my husband included, will share the stage in concert at Carnegie Hall with Christian vocalist Steve Green. Later in the trip we will visit the famed Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir ministry. Both of these Texas and Brooklyn choirs are composed of singers from varied backgrounds. And while energetic may aptly describe the vocal style of both choirs who share a few similarities, they do espouse unique differences in repertoire. The most common similarity is percussive instrumentation. While that section of most educated orchestras “knows their place,” the average church drummer these days is hardly the modest little background drummer boy we sing about at Christmas. Let me assure you as a veteran concert and marching band member, I am well aware of the significant import of drums to produce mood. A cadence to rouse militant marching emotions or set the hips to swaying and just about every emotion in between can be stimulated by drums. Drums can have a distinct primal and physiological impact upon our corpus singularly or collectively in church. Exposed to different choral styles in churches in my early childhood, I heard stories reflecting different styles of hymn singing as told by my aunt, the lead choral director for the Hawaii Baptist Academy and her group’s occasional ukulele accompaniment. Then, I remember when my parents returned from a trip to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. On this trip, they returned with a report of a large youth choir they heard one Sunday morning. Photos of the hot pink choir loft filled with adorable youth of African heritage were supported by the stories my folks regaled of the

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Issue #92

choir’s unique Caribbean style of hymn singing and unison swaying. Today you can do an internet search for “calypso hymns” and discover a Trinidad and Tobago choir dressed in a riot of rainbow-colored robes and choreographed, dancing “angels” wearing white attire styled in a blend of African head wraps and Mexican folkloric dresses praising God to a full and happy choral rendition of Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus. The thrill of today’s church music choices is that it never needs to be repetitive. Outstanding and varied choices abound, and any day of the week one can observe third world musicians thrilled with the privilege of studying the highest calibers of vocal and instrumental music. Stone Mountain, Georgia is home to the Mountain Park First Baptist Church Jubelheirs Choir. Their fantastic choral and orchestral rendition of the modern hymn “When In Our Music God is Glorified” is a thrilling message that they, Harvard University, and a host of other choirs have recorded that not only elevates the spirit but educates and informs the heart and mind of the purpose of our music dedicated to God. Not driven by an out-of-control dominant drummer, this recording’s poignant phrase…and adoration leaves no room for pride…reminds us that our church music is not for the purpose of self-aggrandizement, elevating libido, or working us into a frenzy. It is neither to impress others with our electronically amplified instrumental or stage vocal finesse, nor to entertain congregations for the purpose of meriting their applause, but for the purpose of praising a mighty God who deserves ALL praise and adoration. Instead of the secular response of applause for a musical performer next Sunday, why not agree with the message in song with a heart-felt praise, “Hallelujah” or the reverent expression of “A-MEN!”

ABOUT LISA... Lisa and her musical husband, Jim, have served in music ministry across the state of Texas for nearly 40 years. They reside in McAllen, Texas and continue to share their love of hymns with a large number of his music students and with congregations when invited. They can be reached at morrowmessages@aol.com.

Irresistible

Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleaseashed for te World.

By Andy Stanley Zondervan

A book for anyone who cares deeply about the future of the church. Once upon a time there was a version of our faith that was practically . . . irresistible. But that was then. Today we preach, teach, write, and communicate as if nothing has changed. As if “The Bible says it,” still settles it. It’s time to hit pause on much of what we’re doing and consider the faith modeled by our first-century brothers and sisters who had no official Bible, no status, and humanly speaking, little chance of survival. What did they know that we don’t? What made their faith so compelling, so defensible, so irresistible? Buckle up . . . you’re about to find out. More importantly, Andy will invite you to embrace the version of faith that, against all odds, initiated a chain of events resulting in the most significant and extensive cultural transformation the world has ever seen. A version we must embrace if we are to be salt and light in an increasingly savorless and dark world.

Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

Overcomer

8 Ways to Live a Life of Unstoppable Strength, Unmovable Faith, and Unbelievable Power

by Dr. David Jeremiah Nelson Publishing We live in a time of deep uncertainty. And yet, the Bible promises we were created to enjoy lives of freedom, even in times when the world around us seems filled with darkness. We were created to be overcomers, conquering the greatest obstacles in our lives. In his new book, Overcomer, beloved teacher David Jeremiah offers his insights on one of the most quoted but least understood passages of the Bible: the apostle Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians to take up the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). With his signature depth, wisdom, and compassion, Dr. Jeremiah explores the powerful relevance of spiritual armor as a critical tool each day as we confront the specific challenges in our lives and of our time. If you’ve had enough of living in defeat, it is time to find renewed strength and claim the promises of God’s Word to overcome life’s greatest threats.

“Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!” - 1 Chronicles 16

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Walking with the God of Peace

By Rev. Dr. Leslie Gonzales Photo by Radu Florin on Unsplash

Last year I had the privilege of hosting weekly gatherings in my home as the leader of one of my church’s community groups. That experience was a blessing in many ways, but one of the highlights for me was the way we began our time together each week. Every week, without fail, we began by reading the exact same passage and asking each other the exact same question. This passage and question set the tone for our time together, and indeed, our lives.

History tells us that this is no new phenomenon. It was the prevalence of this type of negative thinking that gave rise to the popular book, The Power of Positive Thinking, back in the 1950’s. That book went on to sell millions of copies and has been reprinted numerous times over the past half century. It was wildly popular because the author recognized early on that we had a problem with the way we think, and the world agreed.

The passage we read came from the book of Philippians: “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you,” (Phil. 4:8-9 CSB). The question we asked was simple: “What good things have happened in your life this week for which you can be thankful to God?”

If I were to ask you right now, “What good things happened in your life today for which you can be thankful to God?” how quickly would you be able to respond to that question? My guess is that it might take a while, or at the very least it would cause you to pause and think. On the contrary, if I were to ask you, “What are some bad things that happened to you today?” how long would that take? Be honest.

We read this same passage and asked this same question week in and week out because experience has shown me that all of us, Christians and non-Christians alike, seem to have a major problem with what is referred to as, “stinking thinking.” We dwell upon bad experiences, we beat ourselves up over every last detail of our lives, and our minds naturally gravitate towards those things that bring us down. In other words, we not only “sweat the small stuff,” but we sweat everything.

The apostle Paul tells us in Phil. 4:8-9 that if we think about the good stuff: those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, of moral excellence, those things that are praiseworthy, if we dwell upon these things, then the God of peace will be with us. What are you dwelling on today? How about taking a moment right now to invite the God of Peace to walk beside you as you redirect your thoughts to those things that are good?

The Reverend Dr. Leslie Gonzales is lead chaplain of Kairos Chaplaincy Services, LLC, an entity he founded out of a desire to merge his streams of experience from both the ministry and business worlds in order to care for the spiritual, emotional, and relational needs of people in the marketplace. As a minister, his greatest desire is to see to the care and building up of the individual’s soul; as a businessman, his vision is to see to the care and building up of the corporate climate in which the individual is placed. Dr. Gonzales is an ordained minister and certified life coach. He has been married 14 years and has three sons. His passion is to serve God and to glorify Him through his work in the church and in the marketplace. He and his wife are actively involved in ministry at Logos Community Church Harlingen. Further information regarding his services can be found at: www.kairoschaplains.com.

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Issue #92

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“Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!” - 1 Chronicles 16

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Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez attorney at law

Some historians may argue that among the greatest restoration stories of mankind are the European Renaissance or perhaps the post-World War II era. The cultural movement known as the European Renaissance roughly took place during the 14th through 17th centuries. This moment in history saw the face of Europe evolve with respect to its arts, architecture and long held science tenets. It also saw a rediscovery of the Greco-Roman classical knowledge and a rebirth of the study of Latin and vernacular languages. It served as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era. Closer to home, America saw its restoration take place in the years that followed World War II. During this era, couples who could not afford families during the Great Depression made up for lost time. The mood in America suddenly became optimistic. At that time, the unemployment rate of the Great Depression dropped dramatically and the economy improved substantially. The G.I. Bill empowered many honorable service members to finish high school and attend college. As their skills were improved, so was the financial well-being of their families. But, without a doubt the greatest restoration that can take place is when a person does as Romans 10:9 instructs us to do. Romans 10:9 says: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The message is simple: invite Christ into your heart and make him your personal Lord and Savior. At that time, your restoration will be complete. Next He will do as Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” As you seek and strive to honor God with your life, He will reward you by allowing you to take on His characteristics. Hosea 14:4 says, “I will bring my people back to me. I will love them with all my heart; No longer am I angry with them.” I pray that you will invite Christ into your heart and allow Him to restore you! At my office, I also want to be part of your restoration plan, albeit in a different way. I pray that God will use me for His honor and glory in helping me address your needs. If you have been involved in an auto accident and/or other serious injury or if you have lost a loved one as a result of someone’s negligence, I will do my best to restore some sense of normality to your life. I will also help you in matters involving family law, criminal law and real estate and will issues. As always, I bear in mind that in honoring God with the way I handle my business relationships I will be honoring you my esteemed client.

Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez

www.raulrudyrodriguezlaw.com Phone: 956.380.1421 / Toll Free: 877.480.1421

511 W. University / Edinburg, TX 78539 e-mail: anointed511@gmail.com

rinted In Mexico

Fax: 956.380.2920 / Mobile: 956.655.5455