.:: - life - ::.

What man is a man...

...who does not make the world better?

.:: - thought for the day - ::.

roll this around in your mind today...

Jesus doesn’t merely save us from something, He saves us for something.

...now what did He save you for...right now...today?

...and what are you doing about that?

...live a life worthy of His death...

...and have a richly blessed day!

.:: - life as we should live - ::.

Just a verse for today from Dr. Adrian Rogers. It's a reminder of how we are to live our lives...what it means to live a life pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. I think that we sometimes forget about holiness...and focus too much too often on just "being good". I pray these words convict you today...as they have me...and urge and push us both towards a life more holy. May God bless your day today richly out of the over-abundance of the wealth of Heaven.

November 1

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night." Psalm 1:1-2

.:: - know God, no fear - ::.

I've had a few people come to me lately with a specific issue that either they just began to encounter, or sometimes it's one they've been fighting what seems a vicious loosing battle for longer than they can remember. That issue is fear. Sometimes it wears different masks: doubt, worry, anxiety, and many others. But there, at the root of it all, is fear. One verse that I've shared numorous times over the past few weeks has been 2 Timothy 1:7, and it just so happens that today's Daily Devotional by Dr. Adrian Rogers addresses this very subject. So, I thought I'd post it on here in case any of you have been plagued, no matter how large or small a way, by this demon that can end up manifesting it's ugly and nasty head in many areas of our lives. I pray these words of wisdom below will grant you access to the serenity of the Spirit of God, and that your day today will run over with His abundant blessings!

October 26

BIBLE MEDITATION: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: If you want victory, you must expose the place of your doubts and fears. Many of us are not willing to do that. The devil has intimidated so many of us that we hide our eyes from the Sonshine of God’s Light. There is really nothing to be afraid of when it comes to the devil. Do you know what fear is? It is False Evidence Appearing Real. You can be fooled by false evidence. Take a bank robber with his hand in his coat pocket pretending it is a gun. His power comes from the power of deception. His power is the power of fear! Friend, victory’s arrows cannot be shot through closed windows.

ACTION POINT: Is there any area of your life that you have been unwilling to open the window on? Humbly turn your face to His Light and give your fears to God.

.:: - you + time = life - ::.

Today's devotional by Dr. Adrian Rogers struck me...as his writtings do oft. Today it speaks to the issue of our time on this earth, and not merely the vast overview of our lives, but down to the minute...every plan we make...whether I should spend this dollar on ______ ...or should I go ________ ...every minute...every decision. I love how he puts it "...checking in with God before you make plans and add to your agenda". Test the holiness of each decision, and let not one escape the question "will this draw me closer to my Lord and God, or will it push me further away?" I love how Paul calls us to accountability in Philippians 3...as we grow in maturity...forcing us to check out every decision. So go out today, and remember the words of Paul to the Philippians before adding anything to your agenda today, and everyday...live every moment...and make every decision..."straining forward to what lies ahead":

Philippians 3:12-21 (ESV)

Straining Toward the Goal

¹²Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

¹⁷Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

BIBLE MEDITATION: “And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: The difference between people is not that one has more time than the other. The difference is whether they use their time wisely. You say, “Well, I’m just killing time.” To kill time, is to commit suicide by degrees. You are just killing yourself because you + time = life. Now, that doesn’t mean you are going to be busy every moment. There needs to be balance in your life – checking in with God first before you make plans and add things to your agenda. Make sure you are doing what God wants you to do. Jesus came to the end of His life and do you know what He said? “I have glorified Thee on earth: I have finished the work that Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4).

ACTION POINT: Do you have a clear idea of what God wants to do through you today? If not, ask Him right now. Let Him lead you by His Spirit through His Word to discover His will.

.:: - Complete Consecration - ::.

<sup>I was reading in a devotional book today by Billy Graham, and really wanted to share his message for us all. I pray these words will bless your soul today...and inspire us all to throw the chains of our flesh...and to run fast and hard after Christ in everything and in every minute of our days. May God's richest blessings spill out from His abundance of grace into your life today.

34</sup> And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. - Mark 8:34

Today Christ is calling Christians to cleansing - to dedication - to consecration - to full surrender. If you are a Christian and have been suffering defeat or have been living outside the will of God, I beg you to surrender every area of your life to Christ.

Only surrendered Christians will make an impact on our world. The world does not need any more lukewarm Christians, or lazy Christians, or quarrelsome Christians, or doubting Christians, or prideful Christians. The Bible says, "a double minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8 - KJV). What keeps you from a full surrender of your life to the King of kings and Lord of lords?

Your response will make the difference between success and failure in your spiritual life. It will make the difference between your needing help and being able to help others. It will revolutionize your habits, your prayer life, your Bible reading, your giving, your testimony, and your Church relationship. This is the Christian's hour of decision. What will you do?

.:: - sheepicide - ::.

450 Sheep Jump to Their Deaths in Turkey

Friday July 8, 2005 2:31 PM

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) - First one sheep jumped to its death. Then stunned Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched as nearly 1,500 others followed, each leaping off the same cliff, Turkish media reported.

In the end, 450 dead animals lay on top of one another in a billowy white pile, the Aksam newspaper said. Those who jumped later were saved as the pile got higher and the fall more cushioned, Aksam reported.

``There's nothing we can do. They're all wasted,'' Nevzat Bayhan, a member of one of 26 families whose sheep were grazing together in the herd, was quoted as saying by Aksam.

The estimated loss to families in the town of Gevas, located in Van province in eastern Turkey, tops $100,000, a significant amount of money in a country where average GDP per head is around $2,700.

``Every family had an average of 20 sheep,'' Aksam quoted another villager, Abdullah Hazar as saying. ``But now only a few families have sheep left. It's going to be hard for us.''

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I wish I could...right now...read your mind(s). Some may be thinking..."crazy sheep...always heard they were stupid animals." Others might lean a bit more towards the compassionate and think "Those sheep...such innocent creatures...and those poor families whose lives are going to be so burdened by this loss." And some of you might be thinking..."I wonder what Mark Daniel Miller might be thinking?" :) Isn't it interesting just how much like the sheep we humans often are? Whether it's looking the other way and allowing some injustice to rage on in our families that is destined to cause hardship and ruination for the descendants we one day will procreate...or turning a deaf ear to the crys for help from those around us in our everyday lives..we run...head-long and face-first...right off of the cliff. And why? For no better reason than because the Joe in front of us did. One tiny shread of thought before such action would lead any person of sane mentality to the conclusion that such action or word would lead to nothing but ruination...and not merely the ruin of our personal daily life and soul...but the ruination of all those whose lives ours touch...and all those in the future whose it will as well. How many times have we seen the man or woman on the corner...and had them walk straight to our vehicle...as we turn up the stereo, roll up our windows, and turn our heads? Didn't God promise to never give us more than we could bear? Aren't we promised that our place in God's heart is above that of the birds of the air and the flowers of the field...whom for even those He daily provides all the sustanence they require? And aren't we commanded by Christ to give the shirt off of our back in a stranger asks for our coat? Do we honestly believe that God would allow this needy person to come to us for help, allow us to give them a meager dollar or two...and then He would not provide for our need and we would go hungry? WHY?!? What is it that forces our "me" oriented lives to grow such long and deadly claws? Why is it that we can't let go of the things that bind us to this world...and thereby pull and keep us not only away from God...but at odds with Him? WHY won't we let it all go? It's promised that our flesh will buck and fight and kick and scream as we work with God to throw off anything hindering us...but isn't our God stronger that our flesh? We are so quick to buy into the lies of hell...and so quick to forget the promises that God's placed in our hearts. I beg of you...anyone who might be inclined to have read this far: cast off that which binds. And yes...I know it's a daily battle. But make a pact today to do battle daily right now. Wipe off the knees dusty from the fall...and run with full vigor and strength again. Rip out the ill-set claws of Pride, Selfishness, and Mine...and allow our Lord to fill in the cuts and tears with Love. Don't worry...I am so speaking to myself here as well...not simply wagging a finger. All of those issues I listed above...where do you think I got them from? Eh? So...join hands with me? Right now? Today? And let us do nothing but edify and encourage each other onward and upward in the ways which we must go...not deride and cripple our fellow man ever again. May God bless your journey today...and allow any and all voids within your heart to be filled with only His love, grace, and mercy. I love you...and will be praying for you daily. May God bless you richly.