DHFJesus

A pastor once prepared a list of resolutions for himself. He called his list “The Seven Ups.” This had nothing to do with the soft drink, but had everything to do with attitudes toward Christian living.  1. Wake Up - What is your attitude when you first awaken? Do you rush right into your routine? Are you immediately focused on what the day has in store for you, what lies ahead? Decide to have a good day. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalms 118:24) . We should rejoice because of this great gift and be glad or happy in it. 2. Dress Up - The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "...For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) , God is concerned on what is on the inside. With Christ in your heart and the knowledge of what ultimately lies in store for you, how can you not smil...

The side rooms all around the temple were wider at each successive level. The structure surrounding the temple was built in ascending stages, so that the rooms widened as one went upward. A stairway went up from the lowest floor to the top floor through the middle floor. (Ezekiel 41:7) Still upward be your onward course: For this I pray today; Still upward as the years go by, And seasons pass away. Still upward in this coming year, Your path is all untried; Still upward may you journey on, Close by your Savior’s side. Still upward although sorrow come, And trials crush your heart; Still upward may they draw your soul, With Christ to walk apart Still upward till the day shall break, And shadows all have flown; Still upward till in Heaven you wake, And stand before the throne. We should never be content to rest in the mists of the valley when the summit of Mount Tabor awaits us. How pure is the dew of the hills, how fresh is the mountain air, how rich the food a...

The land you are . . . to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. (Deuteronomy 11:11–12) Nicolaus Zinzendorf He leads us on by paths we did not know; Upward He leads us, though our steps be slow, Though oft we faint and falter on the way, Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day; Yet when the clouds are gone, We know He leads us on. He leads us on through all the unquiet years; Past all our dreamland hopes, and doubts and fears, He guides our steps, through all the tangled maze Of losses, sorrows, and o’er clouded days; We know His will is done; And still He leads us on.

                  Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong. (Psalm 37:1) Never become extremely upset over your circumstances. If worry were ever justified, it would have been during the cir-cumstances surrounding the writing of this psalm. “Evil men” were “dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury everyday” (Luke 16:19). “Those who do wrong” were ascending to the highest places of power and were tyrannizing their brothers who were less fortunate. Sinful men and women strutted through the land with arrogant pride and basked in the light of great prosperity, while good people became fearful and worried. “Do not fret.” Never get unduly upset! Stay cool! Even for a good reason, worrying will not help you. It only heats up the bearings but does not generate any steam. It does not help the locomotive for its axles to become hot; their heat is only a hindrance.The ...

Even his happiest, most heartwarming music has been fueled by tragedy and pain.with five Grammys, dozens of Dove Awards, and over 11 million records sold, Steven Curtis Chapman is one of the most decorated artists in Christian music history. Now, 30 years since the release of his first album, the songwriter has published a memoir, Between Heaven and the Real World (Revell), in which he opens up about marital difficulties, the death of his 5-year-old daughter, and other painful experiences. Music journalist Steve Turner, author of Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts (InterVarsity Press), spoke with Chapman about times of discouragement that have fueled his faith and music .You’re candid about your shortcomings in the book. Did you worry about sharing too much? I didn’t want to skim the surface. Often, in the church, we’re very good at presenting a story that shows us in a favorable light. We’re supposed to have it together—particularly someone like me, who has be...

I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to become such a drag. I kinda wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could through all the people to the toy department.  Once again I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys and wondered if the grandkids would even play with them. I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy about 5 holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her so gently. I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over at the little boy and wondered who the doll was for. I watched him turn to a woman and he called his aunt by name and said, "Are you sure I don't have enough money?" She replied a bit impatiently, "You know that you don't have enough money for...

Most believers are familiar with the Book of Job. Job’s struggles and suffering are well known. For the majority of the 18 th  book of the Bible, we follow along as Job suffers one misfortune after another. We observe his friends trying to console him. We watch his friends try to make sense of the constant distress that afflicts him and his family. We witness Job wrestle with his uncertainty. There is much to learn from Job, but one lesson is very clear: God is sovereign. He knows us. He has a plan for us. We may not always understand His ways, but He is to be trusted. There is a verse in the last chapter that says,  “Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…”  Job 42: 12 . This is encouraging for us today. No matter what we go through, and no matter what we are facing, God is in control. He is able to make our best days in front of us and not behind! [ Source feed from CBN : http://cbn2.nexisit.net/crowdhub_share_v2/2/19964 ]