Daily Treasure

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God:  in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11).

How many really understand these verses?  Our bodies were not created to work seven days a week.

God completed what He needed to do in six days. Why shouldn’t we follow His example and obey the words of today’s verses?  If we don’t use one day a week to take time to rest and worship God, we will find ourselves weak.  It’s at that point, the Enemy will attack. Prioritize, practice better time management or whatever it takes to make sure you have a day to worship and rest.  It will be good for body and soul.  And, of course, the Enemy loses again.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for the Donoho family (Cliff & Kathy and Chad & Jenny and children) as they work to plant a Free Will Baptist Church in Talahassee, FL.

“What?  Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

“If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.”   Many of us have uttered these words. Our bodies are yet another enemy target.  As Christians, our body is the “temple of the Holy Ghost.”   This should make us think twice about neglecting to take care of our bodies.  The Spirit lives in it.

Of course, our Enemy isn’t happy about that. Our writer states “Satan has an agenda: he hates our bodies and wants to destroy them.” This, in itself, should prompt us to take better care of ourselves. Today’s verses tell us to remember Whose we are.  He paid an extremely high price to redeem us.  When we take care of our temple, God is glorified.  And best of all, the Enemy is defeated once again.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Believers in Russia are being pressured not only by the government, but also by the Orthodox church. Pressure comes in the form of limiting the printing and distribution of evangelical literature, as well as discrimination against evangelical believers by not allowing them access to public meeting facilities others can freely rent. Unfair conditions are often placed on the registration of evangelical churches, thus limiting the availability of places where seekers and believers can go to worship and/or find out about Jesus. Ask God to remind believers of His presence and to provide strength, determination, grace, perseverance, and love for the persecutor to each believer.

“Very early on Sunday morning just at sunrise, they came to the tomb.  On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb”  (Mark 16:2-3 NLT).

You are up preparing to head out to church.

You’ve showered, dressed, applied make-up and fixed your hair.  You’ve gathered your Bible, your Sunday School book and your purse.  You’ve herded the family into the car and you’re off.

But you’re worried about a few things—and those few things are getting in the way of your heart preparation for worship.  Your thoughts are filled with undone things, bothersome particulars and unnerving leanings.

You are not alone.  Today, or historically.

Case in point? Reread today’s verse.

These women so wanted to worship Christ with this one last attempt.  They desired to annoint His body with spices and their dedication.  The servants attempted to serve.  But all the while, worries distracted their attention.

They were worrying about things God had already tended to.

Chances are, you are, too.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER:  Pray that hindrances to worship will be minimized and God will be glorified in your life and in your church today.
Pray also for the Brazilian missionaries being sent out by local Brazilian churches: Rogerio and Anice Silva (serving in Uruguay); Alex Mendes (serving in Uruguay); Kely Bar (just returned from language school in South Africa, leaving soon for Turkey); and Jacson and Bruna Cruz (left in March for India). Ask God to give them wisdom and insight as they serve. Ask God to provide for Brazilian churches as they faithfully fund these missionary endeavors. Pray local issues and needs will not distract them from participating in going to the ends of the earth.

“Don’t be afraid, Moses said, for God has come in this way to show you his awesome power…”  (Exodus 20:20 NLT).

What way has God chosen to show up in your life?

Through a heart-stopping diagnosis?

At the end of a funeral procession?

With plans, well-laid plans, all crumbled at your feet?

At someone else’s mercy?

Lacking the strength?

Fearful?

Look around for His fingerprints in whatever it is you are going through.  Peer closely into your circumstances for His presence.  Take your eyes off your list of fears, worries and doubts—and place them on the Lord.

He has chosen this way to showcase His glory. You won’t want to miss it.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER:  Pray today for Steve and Becky Riggs as they work with the new church plant in the town of Chateaubriant, France—the regional center of 33 towns with a combined population of over 60,000 and little evangelical outreach. Ask the Lord to strengthen the group of believers in Chateaubriant and to provide open doors for the gospel to be announced in this needy region. An estimated 30,000 towns in France have no gospel witness. Ask God to provide French people willing to share the gospel in unreached areas.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

For parents who have trained their children by example. yet whose children have strayed away from God, this verse offers hope.  Those of us who have prodigals need to hold on to this familiar Scripture.  When we feel we have done our best, we have to give this burden to the Lord….and “leave it there.”  The Enemy has targeted our children.  We may feel somehow we have failed.  Don’t give up fighting for the souls of our children.

Continue to pray and use any opportunity to show the love of Jesus. If we don’t,  we may feel like a target as well.

I have heard testimonies of prodigals coming back to Christ because they remembered their raising.  When they return, the Enemy is defeated, and all Heaven rejoices.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for upcoming spring banquets and teas planned as women’s outreach events. Ask God to draw unsaved and unchurched women to these activities and allow them to feel the welcoming warmth and love of the Body of Christ. Pray that many will find salvation.
From FWBIM: Ask God to call more young men to pastor churches in the countries in which we work. Many churches begun by missionaries need local pastors. Pray for men willing to study, train, and take on the role of a servant-leader.

“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea he shall give delight unto thy soul” (Proverbs 29:17).

There are blessings that come with a well-disciplined child. There will be peace in the home. This child will be a source of delight to a parent whether in public, church or in the home.  Probably the biggest blessing comes in the respect a parent receives because she dared to discipline. When a parent disciplines out of love, it makes her happy when children fully understand this. But for the parent who refuses to see the need for discipline, the times of blessings will be few.  The Enemy will see to that.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for New Mexico Women Active for Christ meeting today and tomorrow for their annual session.
Also, church leaders in Spain need wisdom to administer church affairs and make decisions during difficult and challenging economic times. The unemployment rate in Spain is near 30% and many church members are affected. Pray God will guide these Christians through this economic crisis and that He will strengthen their faith as well as their witness. Pray pastors Jhon Fredy and Jose Manuel will be able to provide for their families and preach the Word faithfully, knowing that the God Who called them will sustain them as well.

“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child: but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15).

The word foolishness has often been connected with the word sin.  Like it or not, we are all born with a sin nature. Does any child need to be taught rebellion? Today’s verse states that “foolishness is bound in the heart of child.”  Doing wrong just seems natural. Before that can get out of hand, a parent has to find a way to put the brakes on.  The best way to head off foolish behavior before it gets worse is through consistent discipline. (In the commentaries I read, “the rod of correction” is defined as “the rod of discipline.”)

It doesn’t mean a literal rod, but a form of discipline that will help children understand they must face consequences when they do wrong.

When a child is left to do whatever he/she wants without discipline, especially in the adolescent years, he/she will easily become an enemy target.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for pastors in India. Many are aging and that, coupled with their extensive traveling between villages/churches, often harsh climate, and heavy responsibilities, has taken a toll on their health. Pray for rest for the weary, strength for the fatigued, and grace for the drained. Ask God to give healing where that is His will and dependence on Him at all times. Pray for perseverance and diligence in the face of persecution.