Friday Daily Devotional by Pastor Greg Laurie

GP: Friends, there are people drowning in our towns and cities......each one can reach one in the name of the Lord.

Let us all go out and make a difference for the kingdom of God in this time! May God bless you all richly.

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
—2 Corinthians 2:4

Even before Titanic arrived on the big screen in 1997, people have been fascinated by its story, perhaps because there is so much to it. Clearly, many mistakes were made that led to its sinking. Although it was called the unsinkable ship, it sank. And it sank relatively easily.

We know that 1,500 people perished in an icy grave. We know there were not enough lifeboats on board. We know that many of them went out half-full, some with only four or five people when they had the capacity to carry at least 60.

But one of the greatest tragedies about the Titanic is the fact that while there was room in the lifeboats, no one went back to save anyone else. They had rowed out a distance from the sinking vessel because they were afraid of its suction. Survivors said they could hear the screams of the people as the Titanic finally disappeared below the surface.

Here were people in lifeboats that had room. They could have rowed back and pulled others in. Yet they did nothing about it. They waited for about an hour, and then they went back. By then, they were only able to save a handful of people. They waited until it was too late.

Right now, there is a lost world around us. People are going down, and we have room in our lifeboat. Do we care enough to go and pull them on board? Do we care enough to do something for them? Or will we say, "They should have gotten into the boat when there was time"?

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Just received word  that Ron and his wife are heading back to Cleveland to be with their daughter Dawn who has been admitted to the Cleveland Clinc again.

Her breathing is not good. As I understand it the antibodies from the donor lungs are what her body is rejecting. For those just joining GP, Dawn had a double lung replacement a lttle more than a year ago and was hospitalized and treated for same condidtions a few weeks ago. Please pray for her permanent healing.

Ron is heading for airport this am and will not be able to post. We welcome all GP views to post links of interest  under the WRITE COMMENT then  click  add more for the GP viewers to read.

Thank you.

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Thursday's Action for the Day from Our GP Friend Pastor Greg Laurie

GP Viewers: Can really say today it is well with your soul? I received this email devotional today.

God's timing in GP's last days.....

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." 
—Matthew 25:13

Some years ago, I was asked to speak at an event called Promise Keepers. I was flying out of LAX, and that morning, I called ahead to make sure everything was on schedule. Much to my surprise, they had moved up my flight by one hour. (I didn't even know they could do that.)

So I got there, parked my car, and was literally sprinting to the gate. They were shutting the door just as I arrived. So I went up to the airline employee and said, "Ma'am, please. I have to get on that plane. I have a speaking engagement to a bunch of men."

"I am sorry," she said. "The flight boarding is over."

I could see the plane was sitting there, and the Jetway was still attached to the plane. I said, "Ma'am, it is still there. I can get on."

"I'm sorry, sir. Step away from the gate."

"Okay, ma'am. I really—I am going to speak to 50,000 men." But there was nothing I could say to change her mind. The door was shut, and I was too late.

There is coming a day when it will be too late to get ready for eternity, and the door will be shut to heaven. There is coming a day when Christ will come back, and if we are not prepared, we will miss it.

Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13).

What does it mean to watch? It doesn't mean that we are supposed to quit our jobs or divorce our spouses as some people did when they thought they knew the actual date of the Lord's return. To watch is to be prepared. You make your arrangements ahead of time.

GP adds: In John 14:6  the Bible reads: Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

There is NO other option folks, if you want to spend eternity with God. Clarke's Commentary explans:

I am the Way - That leads so the Father: - the Truth that teaches the knowledge of God, and directs in the way: - the Life that animates all those who seek and serve him, and which is to be enjoyed eternally at the end of the way.

We pray  you will know today it is well with your soul and your Maker so no one will miss it.

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Thursday Daily Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley

PROVERBS 3:7-12

There is great importance of depending on the Word of God as our compass throughout life. Following the Lord's directions will change behavior and challenge our thinking, attitudes, and desires. He leads us to think differently about ourselves, our values, and even the difficulties facing us.

We naturally want to determine our own course in life. It seems like the only logical way to get where we want to go. But being wise in our own eyes is pride. To combat this tendency, the Lord instructs us to fear Him and turn away from evil (v. 7). This "fear" is not a horrified dread of the Father, but an attitude of respect that motivates us to obey Him for both our good and His glory.

DON'T MISS THE REST CLICK HERE

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If you recall during the week leading up to 9-11 I posted about David Bloom and shared his experience that changed his life for eternity when he attended the New Canaan Society meetings  and became friends with Jim Lane and BJ Weber.  I hear they also have powerful speakers  monthly and great mens retreats. You will find a great supportive community in addition to your local chruch.

This is a simple reminder you might want to check out.

READ ABOUT THE NEW CANAAN SOCIETY AND FIND A LOCAL CHAPTER TO CONNECT WITH CHRISTIAN MEN

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LUKE 12:16-21

GP: I am simply amazed how the daily email devotionals this week tie into what we have been talking about--- stepping up and out into our worlds to reach out to others in need.

One day we'll give an account of ourselves to the Lord (Rom. 14:12). We must, then, pay attention to how we live.

The rich man in Luke 16:19-31 made the tragic choice of living for himself without regard for the Lord. He also made two other mistakes.

READ THE DEVOTIONAL

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Wednesday Daily Devotional by Pastor Rick Warren

Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (Matthew 6:19-21 MSG)

The real secret to becoming content is to focus on the things that have eternal value. It may be a familiar teaching to you, but Jesus said we should store up our treasures in heaven, not on earth, “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV).

Think about the things in your life:

What will last forever?
What will last at least for your lifetime?
What will last a few short years, months, or days?

Based on eternal value, what things are most important in your life? Where — and with whom — should you put most of your time and energy?

By reorganizing your life around eternal priorities, you’ll find yourself growing in contentment as you live according to God’s design and purpose.

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