Different Goal

God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise. - 1 Corinthians 1:27

in 1945, professional golfer Bryon Nelson had an unimaginable season. Of the 30 tournaments he entered, he won an amazing 18 times - including 11 in a row. Had he chosen to, he could have continued his career and perhaps become the greatest of all time. But that was not his goal. His goal was to earn enough money playing golf to buy a ranch and spend his life doing what he really loved to. So, instead of continuing on at the peak of his career, Nelson retired at age 34 to become a rancher. He had different goals.

The world may find that kind of thinking to be foolish. It doesn't really understand the heart that looks beyond trying to trying to gain more wealth or fame to real satisfaction and contentment. This is especially true when it comes to our choice to live for Christ. But it is in the world's perception of our alleged foolishness that we might best represent the Master's different goals to this world. Paul wrote, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" (1 Cor. 1:27).

A commitment to living according to kingdom values might brand us as foolish in the eyes of the world, but it can bring honor to our God.

What Christ will say on judgement day

Will finally make life's values dear;

He'l show that we were rich or poor

By what on earth we held most dear. - D. De Haan

Core values are of no value unless they reflect God's values.

^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^

1 Cor. 1:18-31

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, bu to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

when i decided to work in the church as a full time worker, I was being laughed and scolded by someone, who I care and loved.. just simply because i lost a quarter of my original salary compared to my job before...

I dont really care for money... although i knew that it is so important that I almost can't survive in this world without it... but it just can't be my first thing to care of...

I love God, wish to serve him with all I can... I dont have skills, I know nothing to share gospel... but all i can do is those back stage work... thank God that chances given to me... and i was being trained... I couldn't have my inner child anymore... as i need to be mature enough to lead those who are younger than me... I must be strong enough to support them... with God's given strength, I can make it...

however, my beloved never stopped to nag me... i take down all the disagreement, and i move on... yes, i'm stubborn... but please let me do whatever i can to please the Lord...

I belong to Jesus Christ...

The Wonder of Nature

I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. - Job 42.5

Growing up around the woods and waters of Midwest America, I've been fascinated with natural wildlife native to our region. But on a recent trip to the California coast, I found myself staring in breathtaking wonder at snorting elephant seals, barking sea lions, and a forest of silent redwoods. I watched pelicans soar in formation, and I saw migrating whales spouting in the distance. Together they are just a sampling of the millions of species that make up the intricate and delicate balance of nature.

According to the Bible, the variety of the natural world is designed to do far more than inspire childlike wonder. The mysteries of nature can help us come to terms with a God who allows inexpressible, unexplainable pain and suffering.

We see this in the epic story of Job. While he was suffering, Job didn't know that God had such a high regard for him that the allowed Satan to test his faith with a series of loses.

What emerges is this eventual, unavoidable conclusion: A Creator who has the wisdom and power to design the wonders of nature is great enough to be trusted with pain and suffering that are beyond our ability to understand. In awe, Job proclaimed, "I know that You can do everything" (42:2). We can trust that kind of God - no mater what.

If God's creation helps us see

What wonders He can do,

Then we can trust His promises

For they are always true. - D. De Haan

It's good to worship God in nature

if it leads us to worship the God of nature.

^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^

Job 36:26-33

How great is God - beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. "He draw up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.

Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.

This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance. He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

God is so wonderful... as my prayers are being answered... just couldn't believe that it just happened...

It's The Real Deal

I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. - 1 Peter 5:12

One of the coolest thing hanging on the wall in my home office is a Certificate of Authenticity.

It has on it the logo of US Space Shuttle flight 110, which was launched in April 2002. Aboard the Atlantis on that flight was Mission Specialist Rex Walheim, who took into outer space an article from Our Daily Bread titled "Seeing God's Glory." Lt. Col. Walheim sent me the certificate to prove that this devotional page actually left earth's atmosphere.

Sometimes we need these kinds of things - documents that verify truth. If I were to show that article to someone and say, "This flew on the Space Shuttle," I could be doubted because I would have no proof. But when Walheim sent me the Certificate of Authenticity, he gave me verification.

In 1 Peter, Simon Peter created a Certificate of Authenticity for his message about the grace of God. In chapter 5, he wrote, "I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this [letter] is the true grace of God" (v.12). Peter was assuring his readers that the many messages of 1 Peter - themes of hope and courage and even suffering - were all authentic and demonstrate the grace of God.

Looking for evidence of God's grace? Read 1 Peter, and be confident that its teaching is the real deal. - Dave Branon

The Bible stands like a mountain towering

Far above the works of men;

Its truth by none ever was refuted,

And destroy it they never can. Lillenas

To trust God is to trust in His holy Word.

^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^

1 Peter 1:3-12

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - or greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glorious that would follow.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now veen told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Jesus is the only REAL thing...

Sparrow's Flight

Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. - Matthew 10:29


After dinner one night, a tiny brown sparrow flew inside our house through the front door. a chase ensued. each time my husband got near it, the little intruder fluttered away in a desperate search for an exit. Before we could escort it safely outside, the bird toured the house so frantically that we could see its chest throbbing from its rapid heartbeat.

Sometimes we are like that little bird - anxious, frazzled, and afraid of what might happen next. It comforts me to think that "not one [sparrow] flalls to the ground" without God knowing about it (Matt. 10:29). He sees and knows everything in our world.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place" (Prov. 15:3), and nothing escapes His attention, including you and me. God understands and values the inest points of your being. Jesus said, "The very hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matt. 10:30).

It's amazing that God keeps a tally of our personal trivia and is even aware of a bird's misfortune. Since He know about these small detail, we can trust that He sees and cares about the big issues that ruffle our feathers. When we ask Him for help, God's response is always informed by his perfect knowledge of us and our circumstances. Let's trust Him with our anxious concerns. - Jennifer Benson Schuldt


If God sees the sparrow's fall,
Paints the lilies short and tall,
Gives the skies their azure hue,
Will He not then care for you? - Anon

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^ ... ^.^

Matthew 10:27-33

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your heard are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

I feel safe... knowing no ones in Kuching when i just came here... but God had comfort me... and He gave me friends... I could never think of what am I having right now... but it just happened...

Praise the Lord and thanks so much... the place I am staying is not a safe place... but I know that I'm under His protection... as I'm much more worthy than a sparrow...