Daily Treasure

“Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:18).

Someone once shared the following saying with me: Life is what happens when you’ve made other plans.  You will face times when you feel someone has pulled the proverbial rug out from under you.  On impulse you most likely will panic instead of pray.  God is there to give comfort and strength when He hears your cries. It’s when we think our problems are bigger than God we will only add to our difficulties. Don’t be ashamed to cry out to God.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Both our International Missions and Home Missions departments need your prayer and support.

“And he was angry, and would not go in, therefore came his father and intreated him” (Luke 15:28).

We are familiar with the outcome of the story of the prodigal son.  The scene could be described as “joy in the camp.”  Everyone should have been happy the younger son had finally come home.  Unexpected disappointment marred the younger brother’s homecoming. The older brother couldn’t believe the reception his brother received.   He became angry and didn’t want to go to the celebration. He had stayed at home and was the good son.  His father had never thrown that kind of party for him. Instead of loving his brother enough to be glad he was back home, he had his own party, a “pity party.”  In the midst of some of the happiest times in life, disappointments will hit.  Becoming angry or feeling sorry for one’s self will not make things better.

How many times have you faced unexpected circumstances and felt life just isn’t fair?

It’s all in how you handle them.  Do they draw you closer to God, or, do you blame Him for the turn of events of your life?  It’s not the cross we bear.  It’s how we carry it. Remember Christ bore one for you.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for guidance for the six students who plan to enroll for the 2010 school year at Chame Bible Institute in Panama. Pray the Lord will send the students He wants.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2)

Christ calls us to come, yoke up with Him and find rest as we plow through life. How wonderful to know that He is bearing the weight, guiding our way and keeping us on the path.

Yet,  He also calls us as His followers to extend the same benefits to others. How can we lighten the loads of other believers? His yoke is easy, but as we partner together with God in bearing one another’s burdens, we find mutual encouragement and joy. Who needs a lift in your congregation? How can you lighten someone’s load?

A Valentines Day on the Lord’s Day affords us a wonderful opportunity to both learn of Christ and fulfill His law, to bear and to rest.

Sarah Fletcher
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: It’s not too early to begin praying for our National Convention in Oklahoma City, OK, this July.

“…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood…to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen (Revelation 1:5-6).

Several years ago, my dad surprised my mom for Valentines Day. A sizeable snowfall provided the perfect tablet. Finding some half-used cans of red spray paint in the garage, he wrote I LOVE YOU in larger-than-life size letters on the front lawn.

A hopeless romantic? Hardly. My dad seldom openly expressed his affection and rarely did he speak those three words my mom so longed to hear. For years she had kept a list—”Ways I Know He Loves Me”—her private record of little things he had done that reassured her of the love he found so hard to verbalize. Yet on that February morning, the whole world—at least the neighbors nearby—witnessed his love declaration—written in red.

The Lover of our souls also wrote His love declaration in red—”in his own blood” Revelation declares. He continuously shows us His love through creation, through constant provision and care, but on that day of Crucifixion, the whole world witnessed His love declaration, not just for one person, but for all mankind. Centuries later, that message of the Cross—I LOVE YOU—still speaks to hearts and changes lives.

Sarah Fletcher
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Don’t let the “winter blues” get you down. Ask God for new opportunities to minister within your home, church, community and world.

“I will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto him, Father I have sinned against heaven, and before thee”  (Luke 15:18).

To sum up the whole week, the best way to deal with the discouragement you find within yourself is just to admit your sin and repent.  Repentance will always be the way to victory.

Get out of the world’s “pigpen,” admit you have sinned and run to the Father. He stands waiting with outstretched arms for all prodigals to come home.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Fight discouragement–pray for and visit loved ones in nursing homes.

“And he wrote in the letter saying, Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him that he may be smitten, and die” (2 Samuel 11:15).

Even when you realize how wrong you have been, you may think you’ve only hurt yourself. I don’t want to add to your discouragement, but that is simply not true.  When one gets to the point that she keep on sinning to cover other sin, that person, most likely, will take others down with her. Look what happened when David sinned.  Not only did his sin affect Bathsheba, but Uriah lost his life.  You may feel you would never let your life spin out of control.  It happens and, if sin is allowed to run rampant, it may leave behind some casualties.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Verlin and Debbie Anderson and Alice Smith as they attend the West African CHE (Community Health Evangelism) Conference in Accra, Ghana, February 16-20.

“For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me”
(Psalm 51:3).

This is a continuation of Monday’s devotion.  Another reason we need to go for help when we feel our lives are a disappointment is the shame we feel because we have become the prodigal.  There are consequences we may still have to face. The account of David’s sin showed this was true for him. However, he poured out his soul to God ( Psalm 51).  David’s sin haunted him.  He felt shame and despair realizing he had sinned against God. With a contrite heart, David went to God and found forgiveness. What God did for David in restoring him, He stands ready to do for you.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray as we study God’s power over discouragement this month. Change DIScouragement to ENcouragement; be a Barnabas to someone today.