The Illustrator blog, as well as The Nugget blog have been discontinued. Instead, the blogs will now be published on-line on Facebook.

Answers2Prayer has now its own Facebook Group! The Illustrator and the Nugget newsletters have joined forces and are now on Facebook under the name of Answers2Prayer. This group is dedicated to bringing people closer to our loving God through thought-provoking devotionals and inspirational stories that are published daily. Join us at http://www.facebook.com.

You may either sign in or sign up. Once into your account, search for Answers2Prayer in the search bar (on the top right corner of the screen), and then hit enter. You will find our new group. Click on "Join Group", hit "Confirm" and enjoy our daily encouragements.

As always, this is a free newsletter. We hope to brighten your days by helping you make Jesus your focus!

Triumphant Celebration. La Vie en Rose, Part 5

Today's Bible Verse: Rom 8:14-17 Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

The first monument that we recognized as our taxi entered Paris was the Arc de Triomphe. It stands at the centre of la Place de Charles de Gaulle, where twelve avenues converge, right at the top of the famous shopping area called les Champs Elysées (Boy! French people sure like to shop!).

You can imagine the traffic around this renowned place, so much that pedestrians have their own underground walkway to access it.

In 1806, right after his victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon I ordered the construction of the Arc de Triomphe. It was finally finished in 1836, 30 years later. The design of this Arc was inspired by the antique Arch of Constantine in Rome, but it ended up being twice as high and twice as wide as the original. Although it was designed by the French architect Jean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin (A bit long for a first name, don't you think?), it had to be completed after his death by Jean-Amand Eaymond (A bit easier to pronounce!)

The purpose of the Arc of the Triomphe was to celebrate major victories during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Thus, its name! Each great victory is engraved at the top of the Arc, along with a list of 558 generals. In addition, there are four relief sculptures at the base of the Arc celebrating the Triumph of 1810; Résistance, and Peace and the Departure of the Volunteers, also known as La Marseillaise. Finally, the tomb of the unknown soldier can also be found beneath the Arc.

The biggest celebration at the Arc de Triumph happened in 1944, at the end of World War II. During the liberation, General Charles de Gaulle (From there the name of the place) marched victoriously through Paris. Every year on Armistice Day (November 11), there is a great celebration in memory of the triumphant victories over the German armies and over the despot kings of the past, as well as a commemoration for all of those who died for the cause of freedom.

We have an even bigger cause to celebrate, so big that we should be celebrating it daily.

"Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." (Rom 8:14-17 NIV)

Thanks to Jesus who died willingly for our freedom, we now have the possibility of becoming not only the sons and daughters of God, but also "co-heirs with Christ"! No need to be enslaved to fear any longer! Jesus set us free! Claim it and you will receive it! Isn't that cause for the biggest celebration of all times?

There is one part of this victory, however, that we often seem to forget. We need to share "in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Just like the French people. Before they could share in the joy of D-day, they first had their share of suffering during all of those wars!

So when we are facing temptation, let's remember that the pain of resisting is but a small part of the suffering that will lead us to "His glory!" Or if we are feeling much like an atomic bomb in our anger, remember that to resist the temptation to get angry is but a fraction of the pain that giving in would bring, and this tiny bit of suffering will lead us to victory. If our addictions are knocking on our door, keep it closed. The pain involved in doing so is but a component of that suffering that leads us to utter joy. Remember: We aren't alone in this. If we rely on Jesus, He will give us the necessary strength!

"Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." (2 Cor 1:9 NIV)

And remember. Though this kind of suffering may look overwhelming at the time, it is insignificant compared to what God has planned for our eternity!

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Rom 8:18 NIV)

Are we ready to celebrate daily? Temporary suffering will lead to eternal bliss if we let God shine through it all!

Rob Chaffart

Announcements:

We rejoice with all those whose prayers were answered and thank them for sharing their testimony with us. If you have an answered prayer, may I encourage you to send it to us? These testimonies help others depend more on our loving Heavenly Father. Without Him we would be hopeless. Please send your answered prayer to: prayerrequest@answers2prayer.org

Untangling My Mess

Today's Bible Verse: 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him [Jesus] because he cares for you.

Untangling My Mess

One hot summer day, my friend's Dad grabbed his fishing pole and called out to his kids, "Okay everybody, get your poles and get in the boat."

Among giggles and silly antics echoing through the lake, all five kids climbed in the small motor boat. It rocked and swayed while all settled in their seats, fishing poles in hand.

Dad glanced at their excited faces. "When we're out a bit farther, all of you cast your poles out. Got that?"

As the boat came to a stop, everyone swung back, then forward. In seconds, all kids had the lines wrapped around necks, arms and each other's strings. In a tangled mess, they stared at each other.

"Silly kids, what are you doing?" Dad shook his head. "You need to know the direction before you throw your lines out."

Isn't that the way of the world? Embarking on the fast motor boat, we rush out into the waters. The heart filled with expectations to catch the best--a little peace, security, freedom, and even fun. Instead, while riding the waves of life, we oftentimes find disappointment, uncertainty and fear. Before we know it, we all stare at each other, tangled in a mighty muddle.

What went wrong? We missed something--the direction, the place, or the timing. The world didn't bring solutions, friends weren't able to help, and family members have their own problems to deal with. So, we turn to our own wisdom, but no luck; it drowned in the undercurrent of negative emotions.

As a result, days are rough and nights are often unbearable. And right when frustration is about to come out in a loud scream, we dab sweat from the forehead and pause. We stop long enough to hear the instruction of all instructions. The call that will turn it all around and bring freedom from the crazy chaos:

"Cast all your anxiety on him [Jesus] because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

When I rode the boat of grief after our youngest son was tragically killed, tangled in sorrow, I cried out to God. One by one, he untangled the clutter of emotions and took each ounce of heartache as I purposefully cast them to Him.

With eyes fixed on the direction Jesus points—to Him, His arms, and His love, pure and abundant, all changes. Let me give you a gentle nudge--don't hold back. Cast them all to the Lord because He does care, does provide, does protect, and has the answers we fish for.

Maybe you're in that boat right now, and while searching for answers, a storm broke loose. Thunder claps above, and the skies have turned black on you. I'd say that's the perfect time, the exact moment to cast those burdens out to Him. No tangling of lines, no confusion or mess--only peace, lasting and certain.

And when night comes, go ahead, fluff your pillow, get comfortable, for sleep will come back when you "Cast your cares on the Lord knowing He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22)

Once you choose to cast it all to Him, the scenery changes. Can you see blue skies between the clouds? Can you almost hear His whisper? He's smiling, outstretching His arms to receive your heartache, catch your fear, soothe those anxious moments, and calm the tremor that rattles your soul.

Janet Perez Eckles http://www.janetperezeckles.com

Announcements:

Do you have a prayer request? Do you know someone who needs to be prayed for? Prayer works! The Bible confirms this in James 5:16 “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” NIV Send your prayer request to prayerrequest@answers2prayer.org and let us pray in agreement with you! Matt 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” NIV Hallelujah!

Utter Efficiency-How Do I Turn These Things on? La Vie en Rose, Part 4

Today's Bible Verse: Rom 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Our overnight flight to Paris hadn't afforded us much sleep, and though our 16 km trek through Paris on foot had been worthwhile, it had also been very tiring. We were sure glad to open the doors to our bedrooms in the little hotel near the Eiffel tower. We couldn't wait to prepare ourselves for a well-deserved sleep.

Only one problem: The lights wouldn't come on. We had read that this hotel had been recently modernized, and the thought had appealed to us. But now we couldn't help but wonder if they hadn't overdone it a bit … Just imagine, 2 reasonably intelligent, albeit tired, adults and 2 teens who know everything (if you don't believe it, just ask them!), scurrying about, scrutinizing every corner of the rooms, trying every light switch, verifying every electrical plug, but to no avail. We were not rewarded with even the tiniest flicker of a light!

Help!!!!

It was when my adventuresome son and wife combined their intelligence that the mystery was finally solved. She found a credit card-shaped slot on the wall and wondered what it might be for, he put the key card into the slot, and voilà! (That's French for "there you are") Light! Without the card, the entire electrical system was dead, but once the card was in place, we had all the light we could have ever needed.

It's actually a pretty neat way to save electricity. After all, you can't leave your room without a room key! But not so neat when you don't know about this device and all you can think of is sleep, sleep and more sleep!

We were now finally able to get ready for bed, but we didn't realize that we needed a power converter to use the power bar we had brought with us from Canada. One loud "Zap", and not only did we fry our power bar, but we also succeeded in blowing a circuit breaker. Once again we were in utter darkness, and our key card could no longer help us.

It took a phone call this time, but soon our lights were back up and running. Ouf! (That's French for "relief") I decided it was time to wash my hands, and I entered the ultra modern bathroom. The toilet was a two-flush kind, the see-through shower walls were extra sleek, and the wash basin looked like a flying saucer (Maybe we could play some Frisbee at night?).

There was a soap dispenser on the wall by the wash basin, but for some reason, it wasn't cooperating. No matter what I tried, it would not dispense any soap. I pulled it, I pushed on the top, I pushed on the bottom, I slapped it, but to no avail. It wasn't until I squeezed it in the middle that a blob of soap emerged. Enfin! (That's French for "finally"!)

And I thought we were technically advanced in North America!

While wondering about all of these wonderful technical advancements, the following text popped up in my head: "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." (Rom 8:11NIV)

Just like bringing life to our lights was not possible without inserting our room key card into a slot, and just like we needed to have a converter to use our power bar, and just like I had to accept the "squeezing technique" to get soap from the bottle, I cannot be made alive without accepting God's Holy Spirit as my sole guide in life. I not only have to invite Him into my life, but I must also give Him my driver's seat. Only then will I become really alive, only then will I receive the assurance of my future resurrection. And just like the lights and the soap, once you have the right recipe for success, it works!

And for anyone wanting to stay in this ultra-modern little hotel, don't worry about the hall lights. The hallway may be dark, but once you step in, the lights turn on automatically.

Hum. That sounds a bit like faith, doesn't it?

Rob Chaffart

Announcements:

Do you need to be prayed for or do you know someone in need? Don't hesitate to contact us at prayer@Answers2Prayer.org. We are here to pray for you and to offer you encouragements.

Fractured Feelings

Today's Bible Verse: Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

I was feeling sorry for myself the other day. It was the usual round of over worked, over worried, and over stretched. Of course I was the creator of all the stuff that I was experiencing, but in my selfish heart I just wanted God to make things easier, less difficult, and more relaxed. In other words, I was going through a self-pity party and needed God to do what I desired. Instead of fixing my heart on Him, I just wanted God to fix everything for me.

It only lasted a little while (along with a little whine), and then I began to hear about other people with real problems, serious issues, and tragic circumstances. There’s nothing quicker that jolts me out of being self-absorbed than a dose of someone else’s reality. It makes me soon realize that things could be a lot worse and that the stress I experience is no real hardship at all.

I wonder if we Western Christians will ever really understand what faith suffering is all about? Faith sharing is our big thing over here – we share our beliefs, ideas, and opinions quite a lot, but when it comes to faith suffering, that’s a different story.

As I am writing this, Christians in China are languishing in prison. Christ followers are watching their homes burn in India. Fellow believers are being harassed in Iraq and hunted down in Iran. Christians in Nigeria are being ambushed, mugged, raped, and slaughtered. Sudanese and Ethiopian Christians are watching their children die from starvation, malnutrition, malaria, or even measles. Meanwhile, I’m feeling sorry for myself and want the Lord to answer my prayers and respect my feelings.

Hhhmmm, there’s obviously something wrong… John Stuart traqair@aol.com Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Announcements:

One of the ministries connected with Answers2Prayer provides inspirational stories Http://www.sermonillustrator.org . If you have written inspirational stories and would like to share them with others, please feel free to submit them to me. The writer of any story published on our site will receive proper credit. Please submit your story to: prayer@Answers2Prayer.org. Thank you.

The Secret of the Louvre. La Vie en Rose, Part 3

Today's Bible Verse: Rom 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

Le Louvre, the famous national art museum of France, has a secret. Located in Paris, on the right bank of the Seine river, it wasn't built to be a museum at all! Instead it was initially built to be a fortress. Philip II Augustus had it constructed early in the 13th century to protect the Seine against Norman and English attacks, and it became a palace for the French kings.

The original structure looked little like the massive, beautiful palace-turned-museum that we see today. Many of the monarchs who resided there added on to the original structure. One built a new wing here, another a mansion over there. Then in 1564, Catherine de Médicis decided to build her own castle in a nearby field. She called it the Tuileries, and it was soon decided that an extravagant palace could be created by joining the Louvre to the Tuileries through a series of buildings. Additions continued to be built until 1682, when Louis XIV decided to move his court to Versailles, and le Louvre is now one of the largest palaces in the world.

In 1793, only four years after the French Revolution, the Louvre opened as an art museum, but Napoleon I and III continued to live in the Tuileries. During an uprising in Paris in 1871 however, the Tuileries was destroyed. Fortunately the Louvre and the buildings leading to the Tuileries were left intact.

The world-renowned Louvre currently covers over more than 48 acres of land. What used to be a palace for the kings has become a delight for tourists and art admirers alike. The long-gone kings, who now only exist in books, have becomes nothing more than fables of the past. The art, however, is admired by young (unless they are forced into the building!) And old alike.

It is interesting to note that most French kings who resided at le Louvre were not well received by the commoners in France. Their tendency to abuse their power eventually led to a revolution, and they became nothing more than a horrible memory from the past. We have to wonder how we will be perceived when we are gone. Will we be remembered as someone who abuses those around us? Will we be renowned for spreading death through our nasty words and actions, and through our selfishness? Or will we be remembered as one bringing life, love and peace to our surroundings?

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." (Rom 8:6 NIV)

Rob Chaffart

Announcements:

Answers2Prayer ministries is offering a series of non-denominational bible studies called "Getting to Know Him". These consist of three in-depths studies:

1. Can you believe the New Testament?

Discover how reliable the New Testament books are. The verdict will be yours to make!

2. Jesus, a Fraud, a Lunatic or the Messiah?

Who was Jesus Christ? Were His claims true? Was He really who He said he was? Is there anyway to verify who He truly was? Who do YOU think Jesus really was? Was He a liar, pretending to be someone that He truly was not? Was He a lunatic, truly believing He was someone that He was not and deserving to be locked up in an institute? Or was He the one He proclaimed Himself to be?

3. Basking in God's Unfailing Love, An Open Invitation to Experience God Personally

To a world gone mad, trying to get to know Jesus may seem foolish. However if you give Him a try, you will desire to get to know Him more and more at the deepest level possible. His relationship with you will be more precious compared to any other human relationships out there. Enjoy getting to know Him.

These Bible studies are available on the Net at http://answers2prayer.org/studies.html . Subscription is free.

These studies are also available via email, for those who do not have web access. If interested, please let us know by sending us an email at prayer@answers2prayer.org

Come and discover the wonderful purposes Jesus has for you. Enjoy!

The Blame Game

Today's Bible Verse: Genesis 3:12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

The Blame Game

I call it the “blame game.” You know about it, too. Someone does something diabolically wicked and it’s reported in the newspaper. The evidence is there and enough witnesses come forward to make the conviction stand. And then we read about parents, relatives, and friends who sobbingly declare that their child would never do this, or that the police have framed him, or that the System (whatever that is) is to blame. In other words, the wicked event – a murder, a rape, or an armed robbery – all took place by itself. And even though the evidence and witnesses clearly point to his or her guilt, the perpetrator is surely not to blame.

I’ve also seen it happen with drug addicts and alcoholics. I’ve sadly watched them ruin their lives, lose their jobs, and sever themselves from their families and friends. Despite all of these unfortunate things, the addict still mistakenly believes that someone else is to blame.

It’s a sad part of the human condition which has been with us since the very beginning. In the Garden of Eden, God discovers that Adam and Eve have eaten the forbidden fruit. When God questions the couple, Adam blames Eve (and also God for making her). Eve blames the serpent. No one is willing to stand up and say, “God, I cannot tell a lie. It was me.” They don’t even say that they are sorry.

Left to ourselves, human beings can be highly irresponsible and totally unrepentant. But through the mercy of God, the Holy Spirit sometimes afflicts and convicts us of our mistakes. When that happens we have two simple choices: we can go on thinking that we’re not to blame, or we can come to Christ’s Cross and ask Him to hear our confessions. If we approach Him sincerely, He will cancel our sins. We will be at last freed from the “Blame Game” and received into the Light of Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to name our shame and impart from our hearts the failures, mistakes, and blame for the sins we have committed, the relationships we have ruined, and the wrongs we have done. Grant us the courage to make things right with You and with those we have hurt, disappointed, or decried. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA