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To: calgal who wrote (5937)	9/1/2004 2:23:35 AM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 14396

11 September Defeating Discouragement NEHEMIAH 2:17-20 No matter what our position in life, we all encounter disappointments which can quickly lead to discouragement and paralysis. No one is immune. While everyone suffers in this way, some seem to be down and out much longer than others. What can be done to minimize our down time? First, recognize the difference between disappointment and discouragement. Disappointment is simply an emotional response to a failed expectation or hope: we are disappointed when plans go awry or somebody doesn't measure up. More serious is discouragement, that state of mind in which we become faint-hearted and lose confidence in ourselves, God, or others. This condition can result when disappointment is handled improperly. It is important to realize discouragement is a choice. We can settle into disappointment and accept our discouragement, or we can look straight at it and consider our assets, as Nehemiah did. When beset with huge obstacles in his attempt to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, he gathered the officials and began a sober analysis of the problems confronting them. He was not a rosy optimist, but he did have confidence in the hand of God and the king's word. (Nehemiah 2:17-20) He was confident these factors would bring success if workers would arise and build. Buoyed up by this one man, the officials set their hands to complete the project and defeat the heavy discouragement all around them. Is there a broken wall needing repair in your life? He who is in you is greater than any obstacle hindering its repair.

To: calgal who wrote (5937)	9/1/2004 2:23:44 AM
From: calgal	Respond to of 14396

12 September Victory in The Battles Of Life 1 Samuel 17 The battles of life often seem overwhelming, leaving you with feelings of hopelessness and despair. It is reassuring at these times to read the account of David’s victory over Goliath to understand that nothing is too big for God. David was a teenager who already was steeped in the ways of the Lord because of the many nights he invested intimately seeking God while shepherding sheep. David’s willing, obedient servant’s attitude positioned him for the victory that would catapult him into greatness: his father wanted him to run an errand and take supplies to the battlefield, and David obeyed. But, when David least expected it, God opened a monumental door for him. Notice how David responded in 1 Samuel 17:45-47. He not only felt compelled to fight for what he knew was right but was eager. He made a positive faith confession in the face of daunting odds, and he affirmed the proper motivation. Finally, David responded as we all should in our Goliath life struggles. He relied on the power of God and not on his own strength. What is the famous line that echoes from this story? The battle is the Lord’s. . . Remember how it all started. David had invested countless hours in intimacy with the Lord. His inexhaustible faith and trust in the Lord came because the battle had long previously been fought—on his knees.

To: calgal who wrote (5937)	9/1/2004 2:23:56 AM
From: calgal	Respond to of 14396

13 September Extinguishing Flaming Missiles 1 JOHN 5:4-5 Scripture promises that we who believe in Jesus Christ will overcome the world. Yet most of us will admit we are failing to "overcome" in at least one area of our life. Why? The reason is that the Devil focuses his attack on our weaker points. Since our minds are Satan's battlefield, his tactics will be directed toward our thinking. He sends arrows of doubt, fear, and temptation to penetrate our thoughts. He shoots flaming missiles—false ideas about God, erroneous doctrine, and unbiblical philosophies—to lead us away from truth and to thwart God's purposes for us. If we allow these arrows to infiltrate our thinking, we will give Satan a strong foothold inside our minds from which he can harass and defeat us. (Ephesians 4:27) One of the Enemy's strategies is to instill fear in us. Most of us have apprehensions about certain things, and if the Devil discovers what they are, he will send arrow after arrow of trepidation into our minds. He wants us to develop thought patterns of fear whenever those subjects come up. Another tactic is jealousy. Satan wants us to react automatically to situations by noticing what others have and thinking we deserve it instead. If we have this perspective, we will often act without regard to what God says. How can you defend yourself? With God's help, identify your weak areas and begin to strengthen them through His Word. Remember: the fiery missiles of Satan can be thoroughly extinguished by a heavy dose of God's truth. With Christ, we will overcome!

To: calgal who wrote (5937)	9/1/2004 2:25:14 AM
From: calgal	Respond to of 14396

14 September Withstanding the Enemy’s Assaults 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 The arsenal God has provided makes it possible for us to withstand the assaults of Satan and to destroy any strongholds he has established in our minds. One of the most powerful weapons is prayer. It need not be eloquent; it can be a simple, honest prayer like this: "God, here is a weakness in my life that has a stranglehold over me. I have allowed Satan to toy with my mind. He has me in bondage and, God, I am helpless to change it. I am crying out to You in heartfelt repentance. I regret the pain and hurt I have caused others. I lament the hours I have wasted living with this. I surrender myself to You. Release me from this stronghold, Lord. By the power of Your Spirit, please set me free." Our heavenly Father will not refuse this kind of prayer; He will provide deliverance. It is through our sincere prayers that we are able to draw on God's power. Then we can successfully resist the lies of the Devil and say no to temptations he throws in our path. However, the fact that we pray does not mean that Satan will let up on us. No, he will keep firing his flaming arrows against our weaknesses. We extinguish each one the same way. In prayer, we cry out to our sovereign God for forgiveness and draw on His power. Then He will enable us to stand firm upon the truth of His Word. For some of us, deliverance is immediate; for others, it is gradual. Either way, we will attain freedom. If we hold to the truth, Jesus promised we will be free.

To: calgal who wrote (5937)	9/1/2004 2:25:24 AM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 14396

15 September When Our Faith Wavers JAMES 1:1-8 Our faith is the heart of our Christian life. By faith, we are saved, receive forgiveness for our sins, enjoy a personal relationship with God, and have the assurance of our salvation. By faith, we experience the peace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Through faith, our prayers are answered. Yet our lives and especially our prayers tend to be characterized by doubts and wavering faith. Our faith wavers when: We apply human thinking to our circumstances. Sometimes God is going to require us to do something with which human reasoning disagrees. (Isaiah 55:9) We allow our feelings to overcome our faith. It could be a sense of unworthiness or inadequacy that trips us up. Fear of criticism or failure might cause us to doubt we can do what He asks. We fail to see God at work in our circumstances. Doubts creep in when we have asked Him to take action but nothing appears to be happening. We have guilt over sin, past or present. We cannot operate with strong faith when we are under conviction of sin or dwelling on guilt over past wrongdoing. We listen to the Enemy's lies. Satan is the Father of lies, whose objective is to have us reject God's truth and believe his deception instead. Faith is defined as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). What is the condition of your faith? Do the words "sure" and "certain" describe you?

To: calgal who wrote (5937)	9/1/2004 2:30:05 AM
From: calgal	Respond to of 14396

19 September Solving Problems Through Prayer Psalm 55:22 The toddler climbed to the top step of the plastic slide in the backyard and lifted one leg onto the top platform. It left him straddled, one leg on the top of the slide and the other on the top step. His coordination was still undeveloped enough that he was trapped. He couldn’t move either leg. "Daaaaaddyyyyy!" The toddler knew exactly what to do next. In his moment of complete helplessness, with fear setting in as he was stranded several feet above the ground, he called for his daddy. Watching nearby, the dad moved in to save the day. What child wouldn’t immediately cry out to the nearest authority? What father wouldn’t act quickly in such a situation? When hit with a trial or when bad news comes our way, our most effective response is to immediately say, "Father." Not only does this immediately stunt the problem from growing into something that overwhelms us, but it reminds us of our rightful position as children of God. Our Father says He will never leave us or forsake us. Armed with such a promise, we know that God is under His own divine obligation to provide us guidance and direction. There will be many times when life will leave us stretched into an awkward position. We should always remember that our Father is watching nearby, ready to act when called.

To: calgal who wrote (5937)	9/1/2004 2:30:17 AM
From: calgal	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 14396

20 September How to Listen to the Word of God NEHEMIAH 8:1-8 There is a secret to enjoying worship services. People who know the key leave church uplifted and comforted. Others are unmoved. The difference is that the first group knows how to listen to what they are hearing. We should eagerly anticipate listening to Scripture. It is hard to be excited if we think a sermon is aimed at a general crowd. That's not how God works. Every time you hear from the Bible, God has something specific and personal to say to you. Certainly the Israelites believed that, or they wouldn't have gathered with such eagerness to hear Ezra read. (verses 5-6) The people also listened attentively. With no writing tools, they had to commit as much as possible to memory. We often sit through a service, thinking about the time and what is for lunch, when all the while God is revealing Himself through the Scriptures. Our attention span is determined by our genuine interest in the subject. Why is it some people can watch a three-hour movie with rapt attention and yet fidget after only five minutes of Bible reading? We assume that a movie will be entertaining but often approach church with no expectation at all. If God desires to speak to each of us through His Word, then we should be expectantly listening. He has a word of encouragement, strength, or comfort. It is the great mystery of preaching that a man can give a message about one truth from Scripture and everybody in the church hears something different—the exact point God knows each person needs.