How to Get a Giraffe Kiss. Nairobi, Here I Come, Part 15

Today's Bible Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Some like chocolate kisses, and others prefer the real thing. There are some, however, who prefer to receive a kiss … from a giraffe!

Many tourists in Kenya visit shelters where giraffes are displayed and fed. To put a bit more zest into their adventures, they often put giraffe pellets between their teeth. This attracts the giraffe, and as he nears, their mouths automatically come in contact with one another. The giraffe's tongue, which is 54 cm (1.8 feet) long, by the way, dislodges the pellet and the kiss is complete.

If you're into tricks, hey! Why not???

Me, I'd rather keep my lips and mouth to myself, thank you!

In life we often obtain our desired goals by doing tricks. Unfortunately, there are those who also try similar "tricks" to obtain salvation. They can be divided into four categories:

1. The Do-Gooders: "Hey look how good I am! I may not be a Mother Theresa, but at least I am thousands, no millions of times better than Hitler! I deserve heaven simply on that criterion alone, don't I?"

One little problem! The Bible clearly tells us: "All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Rom 3:12 NIV); and "The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead." (Eccl 9:3-4 NIV)

2. The Busy-Bees: "Look how active I am in church! Much better than that "pew potato" who just sits there half asleep every week! Based on this alone, I'm sure I deserve heaven!"

In all truth, no one can boast such a thing! "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9 NIV)

3. The Lawkeepers: "Look how faithfully I keep God's law! Whenever a beautiful woman comes to my attention, I quickly put my nose in a book and act as if she doesn't exist. I sure don't want my fantasies to run wild! And whenever I find out someone is a hypocrite, I make sure to give him my two cents worth. I tell him what's on my mind, you can be sure of that! And naturally, I always succeed in making that person feel miserable! Whenever I'm tempted to cheat on my taxes, I hand over my tax forms to my spouse and let her do it. What I don't know won't hurt me, right? This should make me earn heaven, right?"

Are our attempts to keep God's law really that good? "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:10 NIV); and "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Eph 2:8 NIV)

4. The Moneymongers: "I'm rich! Look at all the money I give to the poor every week! I'm assured a spot in Heaven, right?

Money can be nice, but it can't buy everything, like real friendship and real love. Neither can it buy a ticket to heaven. "You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matt 6:24 NIV); and "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matt 19:24 NIV)

In all realities, no tricks can help us reach heaven! The simple truth is that it's not about us, it's all about Jesus who willingly died in our place, so that we could savour eternity with Him! None of our mediocre attempts will be of any help at all! Jesus is the reason we can reach heaven, if we accept Him as Saviour and Lord!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)

If you don't know Him yet, invite Him into your heart and start to discover how deep His love is for you. He will invite you to be His friend for eternity!

I wonder what would happen if I put bear pellets between my teeth? Do you think a grizzly would give me a kiss?

Rob Chaffart

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The Touch

Today's Bible Verse: Mark 1:40-42 A man with leprosy came to [Jesus] and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

On Sunday morning, a shabbily-dressed homeless person was found sitting on a piece of cardboard at the front of our church entrance, as people filed into the sanctuary. His head was down, and he almost seemed not to notice those entering the church.

As one can imagine, the reaction to this individual was varied. Many people walked by, ignoring him, pretending not to see, picking up the pace as they passed. Others bent over and offered encouragement to enter the warmth of the church, where coffee and food could be made available. One person actually bent down to the level of the street person, putting his hand on him and asking how he could meet his needs.

Just as the service started, the homeless person appeared at the back of the sanctuary and took a seat there quietly for a while, before getting up and wandering over to the food table, set up for after-church fellowship. There he began to stuff his pockets with muffins.

Soon, the street person sauntered to the front of the church and took off his hoody and balaclava, and the congregation immediately realised that it was ... me, the pastor.

I then read today's passage from Mark, noting that it was not necessary for Jesus actually to touch the leper in order to heal him. Remember how Jesus healed the centurion's daughter from a day's journey away? But it was physical touch that the leper (as one shunned and ignored by his community) needed, as much as a spiritual touch or a healing touch.

God created us to need physical touch, so we must be much more liberal -- yet sensitive -- with our physical touch. Much more, we need to reach out and touch the hurting, the marginalized, the needy in our society with all the resources that God has given us.

Walking by is not an appropriate response.

Prayer: Lord, we all stand in need of Your touch, a touch that goes beyond mere healing. Help us to become the kind of people who are ready to reach out and touch, meeting the needs of others, and in doing so, bringing Your kingdom a touch closer. Amen.

Rick Potter rpotte@hotmail.com Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca

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The Pitfall of Curiosity. Nairobi, Here I come, Part 14

Today's Bible Verse: 1 Sam 6:19 God struck some of the men of Beth Shemesh who, out of curiosity, irreverently peeked into the Chest of God. Seventy died. (The Message)

It all started with curiosity. Just what was there about that forbidden tree anyway? And now we are facing a huge epidemic. None of us are inoculated against it, and it attacks us at the most inopportune moments.

Take, for example, the moment someone shows up with a book in hand. We can't help but wonder what that person is reading. Most often we embarrass ourselves because we have never even heard of the writer of that book: "Hmmm…Yeah…It looks to be a …hmmmm…fascinating book."

"Fascinating? Actually it's pretty boring. I have to read it for the course I'm taking."

"Hmmmm…."

Curiosity is a plague and we can't shake the urge to fulfill it.

While in Kenya, my oldest son and his team mates took some time off from building the well and the kitchen for the orphanage near Nairobi (a curiosity by itself) to go on a safari. They rode in special matatus, ones that had tops that could be raised in order for passengers to stand up and take pictures of the wildlife. As they were driving through the outskirts of the preserve, he and his team mates noticed another tourist matatu following them. They hadn't spotted any wildlife yet, but they decided to put the nearby matatu to the curiosity test. Suddenly all of them stood up and began leaning out the right side of the matatu, pointing and staring to the right, with cameras glued to their faces. In reality however, there was nothing out there!

The other matatu stopped in its tracks and its passengers peered earnestly towards the spot my son and his team mates were focused on. Out of nowhere, a wild pig appeared-or at least, that's what they think it was!-and rammed the curious matatu on its left side. The poor people inside were focused on the wrong side all of the time!

For some reason they stopped following my son's matatu. I guess they got over their curiosity!

Curiosity can be quite dangerous, especially if we entertain unhealthy possibilities. "God struck some of the men of Beth Shemesh who, out of curiosity, irreverently peeked into the Chest of God. Seventy died." (1 Sam 6:19 The Message)

If we are not focused on Christ all of the time, we may be treading on dangerous grounds! (see Heb 12:2 - 4)

But then again, God can use curiosity to help those enslaved to stinky, yucky stuff to find freedom through Him! "All the soldiers here, and everyone else too, found out that I'm in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they've learned all about him" (Phil 1:13 The Message)

"Oh you won't believe what just happened to me! It's out-of-this world!"

Curious?

"Nah! Not me. Never. So what was it that happened?"

Rob Chaffart

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Faith

Today's Bible Verse: Gal 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

"What does faith feel like?" That was the question a friend sent me in a letter the other day. As I was thinking about how to answer him a single memory kept coming back into my mind. I was 5 years old and very sick. The doctors told my Mom that my tonsils were swollen, infected, and needed to come out. Surgery was scheduled for the next day and I spent the night in the hospital with my Mom sitting at my bedside. She told me gently not to be scared, that she was there for me and would be right here when I woke up after the operation.

The next morning the nurses gave me something to sleep before surgery and the last thing I remembered before going under was seeing my Mom’s smiling face. That is until I suddenly woke up to find myself surrounded by strange adults wearing masks. I had come to just before the operation was to begin. My young heart was filled with terror and I sat straight up and screamed "Mommy!" As loud as my painful throat possibly could. The next thing I remembered was seeing my Mom’s loving smile again in the recovery room. She held my hand, whispered words of comfort, and brought me a bowl of ice cream. Even though my throat still hurt I wasn’t scared anymore. I felt loved and everything seemed right with the world again.

That is what faith feels like to me. It is feeling loved, cared for, and watched over. It is knowing that no matter how painful or scary life gets you need only to call out to God and He will be there for you. It is having the gentle touch of His hand on your spirit and the loving whisper of His voice in your heart. It is even enjoying the delicious, ice cream filled days of happiness that He gives you here. Most of all, though, it is knowing that you are His Child. Your Heavenly Father loves you joyously, powerfully, and perfectly. Have faith in His love then. Rejoice in your birthright. And share your love with the world.

Joseph J. Mazzella

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Hidden Dangers from Mangoes. Nairobi, Here I come, Part 13

Today's Bible Verse: Mark 14:38 Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire. (The Message)

Who would have thought that mangoes could pose a threat to your health? Well, it's actually not the fruit. It's the worms that live in the mango trees that are a menace, especially if you live in Africa. These worms are called "mango worms", and unlike the fruit, they are far from being delicious.

Mango worms love to burrow in clothing and bedding while it dries in the fresh air. And there is no better place to dry clothing than in the hot African sun! The worms lay their eggs in the folds of the clothing, and then the body heat of the wearer incubates the eggs, causing them to hatch. These worms then burrow into the skin, creating itchy, painful welts. Scratching these itchy welts increases the affliction and can keep you awake all night. The best solution is an injection of Lidocaine.

The cure sounds far fetched, but it does work. A piece of bacon is placed on the welt and the mango worms burrow themselves into the bacon fat, where the worms can simply be peeled off the skin. Peeled off! Can you believe that? Unfortunately it has to be the real thing. Soya bacon strips won't help this time!

The only way to avoid such uninvited guests from getting under your skin is by using a dryer, or by ironing every piece of clothing and bedding that you air dry. Otherwise, you may need to buy quite a bit of bacon! Sure, it works, but it doesn't look all that appetizing to walk around with pieces of bacon hanging all over you!

There are many hidden dangers in life like this one, but none are worse than the hidden dangers of temptation. They may seem harmless at first, but if entertained, they can and will ravage your life and possibly rob you from eternity!

"Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire." (Mark 14:38 The Message)

The only prevention that can be used is to "stay alert" and depend on the One who can help you overcome ("Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Heb 2:18 NIV)

Let us remember that "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4 NIV)

Would you like some mangoes for dinner?

Rob Chaffart

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Somebody Loves You

Today's Bible Verse: John 13:34 As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

When my children were young I used to read to them every evening before bed. One of their favorite stories was called, "Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch." Mr. Hatch was a lonely man living a lonely life. He never smiled. He walked alone to work everyday and ate his lunch alone in a corner. He never talked to anyone on his way home either. In the evening he would buy a newspaper, read it after supper, and go to bed early.

His life changed, however, on Valentine’s Day when he got a heart shaped box in the mail full of candy and a note that said, "Somebody loves you." At first he couldn’t believe it but as he let the message sink in he began to laugh and dance around. That single message had opened his heart to the power of love. Soon he found himself sharing his smile and laughter with others. He became a joy at work and began to help out people in the neighborhood. As the days and weeks went by his laughter, smiles, kindness, caring, happiness and love touched the hearts of everyone in his community.

Later Mr. Hatch found out that the candy heart had been delivered to him by mistake. He felt crushed and began again to withdraw from the world. When his neighbors found out, however, they were determined not to lose the light he shared. They surprised him with a party and a huge banner that read: "Everybody Loves Mr. Hatch." Mr. Hatch cried when he realized that somebody loved him after all. Then he laughed, smiled, and rejoined his friends.

I think that we all have a tiny bit of Mr. Hatch in us. At times we all feel unloved and unlovable. Somebody does love us, though. God loves us. He loves us with a powerful, unconditional, and life-changing love and He wants us to love each other as well. It is what we are here for. It is what we were meant for. May the pages of your life story be full of love then.

Joseph J. Mazzella

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Click Pen Trade. Nairobi, Here I come part 12

Today's Bible Verse: Matt 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Have you ever gone into a store and tried to pay for your goods with a click pen? The kind that are five for a dollar at the dollar store?

"I really like this pair of socks. How much are they?"

"Five bucks."

"Hmmm, I'll give you two click pens for them."

I am sure that you would quickly be shown to the exit, and more than likely you would receive an invitation to never show your face around that store again!

In Kenya however, traders love click pens and will accept them as payment. While looking for a souvenir for his brother, my son bought a zebra statuette for two click pens. The merchant was actually pleased with the deal! Why? Because click pens are not as common in Kenya as they are over the Atlantic Ocean. They are luxury items and are very much in demand.

Isn't it true that we often take things in life for granted? Take friends for example. We may be frustrated that they spend too much time with us, but once they move to the other side of the world, or even to the next city, we feel hurt that they are no longer around. How dare they move!

And what about that special brand of piquante sauce that the local warehouse used to carry? Will we survive now that they discontinued it?

And what about that favourite blanket? The one we've had since we were five? Who dared take it to the dump!

Is it possible that our priorities may be wrong? Don't you think we could survive easily enough with a different brand of salsa? And what about a new blanket? Wouldn't it work better than the worn out one we've had all your life? And isn't it possible to stay in touch with old friends while making new ones at the same time? And is worrying about a pair of socks really that important? Are our concerns about which brand we should purchase really that earth-shattering?

Is it possible that we could dwell on more uplifting items? Like our neighbour who just lost her husband, for example? Or little Johnny who has no food in his fridge?

Too often we worry over trivia, but the things that are important in the grand schema of things are forgotten.

"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matt 6:33 NIV)

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt 10:28 NIV)

Our reality is found in God, not in a pair of socks or a jar of special salsa.

I like the Message's rendition of Mat 10:28: "Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life - body and soul - in his hands." The Message

"Is it true that you don't have any more of my favourite brand of toilet tissue? How is this possible? How will I survive?"

"But we have a no-name brand that is just as good, and cheaper besides."

"I don't need imitation toilet tissue! I need the real thing! What's wrong with you people! Don't you know what is important in life?"

No, we don't. But do you?

Rob Chaffart

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Fed By Ravens

Today's Bible Verse: 1 Kings 17:2-6 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there." So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

I am a small businessman, and I can't help but worry over the state of the economy today: "What if all the work I'm doing now gets finished and no new clients call me? What if clients do not pay?" I think, among other worries, "What if... What if...?" I see others losing their jobs and livelihood, and I worry, worry, worry.

But I must look back at Elijah and remember that I am, and we are all, every one of us, just like him -- all the time, whatever the economic conditions, good or bad. We are all fed by ravens. We are all completely dependent on God for everything in our lives. Those clients call me or walk in the door of any business just like the ravens came over the hill with bread and meat to feed Elijah each day. I am fed by ravens every day. There are no effective "business plans". There are no meaningful "economic stimulus programs" -- and there never were -- throughout human history.

We may mean well in planning, and certainly, we should help as many others as we can. But as to each of us individually, no matter what position we are in, it can all disappear in an instant. That business can dry up; that grant can end; that job can disappear; the economy can tank; poor health can rob us at any time of the ability to care for ourselves. This is true today, and it was also true when we thought, "The times are good." We just forget this essential fact more easily when we believe that things are going well. Being self-reliant is a good character trait, but we can never save ourselves. Our reliance on our own abilities or on another's charity is always, to some extent, an illusion.

Although I must work hard to build my business and support my family, and everyone must work hard to the best of our ability, if I am in God's will, as Elijah was, in the long run, one way or another, God will care for me and my family as He so chooses. If we are obedient, He will care for us. He will provide our daily bread. All that we have comes from Him each day of our lives and always will. For that, we must be truly thankful.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for sending the ravens to feed us today and every day. May we remember that it all comes from You, whatever we may think, moment by moment. Thank You for saving us. Amen.

Frank Hearne frank@floridalandlaw.com Lutz, Florida, USA

Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca February 23,2005 http://www.upperroom.org/

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The Wild Matatus. Nairobi, Here I come part 11

Today's Bible Verse: 1 Peter 3:14 Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.

Life would not be exciting without local transportation, especially when you are in Kenya. They call their local buses "matatus". This word comes from the Kisuaheli "ma tatu" which means "for 3". Apparently, in colonial times anyone could travel on any road for 3 Kenyan schillings.

Naturally with gas prices on the rise, matatus now charge more as well, and for 30 Kenyan shillings (about 50 U.S. cents) they will drive you anywhere on a twenty mile stretch of road. Really not bad for the price!

What is convenient about a matatu is that it will stop for anyone who waves, and it will drop anyone off anywhere that they want, literally, as long as it is on the route. It used to be that matatus would pack these 14-seaters with double that amount of people. For some reason, however, too many people died from accidents, and since early 2004, only one person per seat is allowed. Interestingly, the death rate has drastically dropped…

Riding on a matatu is literally an experience on its own, sure to be enjoyed by anyone who loves roller coaster rides! In fact, they are even more filled with impromptu wild surprises than what you find at your local amusement park! The first thing you will notice when you enter a matatu, even though it may be brightly decorated, are the numerous dents and scratches on the body and in the paint. You immediately know that the driver lives by adventure. He will drive faster than you are comfortable with, he will swerve at the blink of an eye, and he will stop with neck wrenching accuracy! Moreover, if you ride in one after 10:00 P.M., be aware of the numerous carjacking!

On one of their trips in a matatu, our mission team noticed that the odometer read 980,000 kilometres. "They sure must be good mechanics around here!" One of them decided out loud. However on the way to their destination, the matato mysteriously overheated… Could it have had something to do with the wild driving?

They were stuck in the middle of nowhere and it was pitch-black outside the van. They resorted immediately to the best course of action: prayer! Fifteen minutes later another matatu came to their rescue, one with a somewhat more acceptable odometer reading! The good news is, they did finally reach their destination.

A thrill ride? You bet.

Of course there are those of us who shake our heads and roll our eyes and wonder if it is really worth it to step into one of "those"! But then we have to ask ourselves: Is it better to proceed by faith or to be conquered by fear?

In life we are constantly facing this same type of dilemma. We can live by fear or we can live by faith. The first one will fill us with dread, the second one with inner peace. What will be your choice?

"We live by faith, not by sight." (2 Cor 5:7-8 NIV)

"Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." (1 Peter 3:14 NIV)

Let's go to Nairobi and have the ride of our lives! You bet! This is real adrenaline-filled living!

But so is living with God as our pilot! Never a boring moment!

Rob Chaffart

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Garden of Grace

Today's Bible Verse: Matthew 26:50a Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."

Sometimes when I pray to Jesus, my heart is so full of the many ways in which I have disappointed Him. I’ll remember a harsh word that I’ve recently spoken, or a promise that I’ve cast aside, or even a person that I’ve unintentionally hurt.

I call myself a Christian, but I frequently fail to live up to the high expectations that both the Lord and the world have of His servants. And when my mistakes really burden me, I feel as though I’ve betrayed what Christ should mean to me and I’m sorry for being such a poor example to others.

When I read the story of Judas’ betrayal today, and I reflected upon it, I know that had I been there in the Garden of Gethsemane, I could have walked in Judas’ shoes. His greed and insecurity, his pride and bitterness, his act of betrayal and disloyalty could all have been mine. I feel as though I’ve failed my Lord and I don’t deserve His love.

And then a surprising thing happens: I re-read the scripture and I see an amazing moment of Christ’s grace. He doesn’t condemn Judas, or strike him down dead. Jesus doesn’t convict or judge His betrayer. Instead, He calls Judas “Friend.”

Through this revelation, the grace of God overflows and overwhelms my soul. I can ask for forgiveness and be restored because Christ still calls me, “Friend.” I don’t have to dwell on past disappointments or mistakes. I can come to the Lord humbly and sincerely. I can receive His pardon because He is still willing to accept me as His friend.

Whatever burdens we are carrying; whatever past failures there have been in our lives; whatever mistakes we have made or disappointments that we have created, know this: Jesus can forgive them all because no matter what we have thought, said, or done, He is still wiling to call us “Friend.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we all have been Judases in our lives and we are sorry for our sins. Come to us this day and cleanse us of the past. Restore us to Your present favor and lead us towards Your everlasting Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart

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Stones leading to Nairobi. Nairobi, Here I come part 10

Today's Bible Verse: Isa 35:8 A highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.

Most, if not all of the vehicles in Nairobi are covered with dents and scratches. You have to wonder just how madly the cars are driven over there… Or is it the roads that are the problem?

My son was fascinated with how roads are built in Kenya. First of all, all vegetation is removed, and with the help of machinery, the path of the road is made flat and smooth. Next, tons of good-sized, sharp rocks are deposited on the path, and then they are manually laid on the road bed. Great care is taken that the rocks fit perfectly into one another. Some even get chiselled in order to fit in the space provided for them. It must take these construction workers a long time to finish such back-breaking projects!

Then machinery is used to roll over these rocks, in order to make them as smooth as possible. Finally, the final pavement is laid. Amazingly, potholes can still appear on recently constructed roads! And I thought manmade roads would last forever!

God has also built a road for us, but He didn't use stone or asphalt. Moreover, His highway is devoid of potholes! In fact, anyone who drives His road is filled with immeasurable inner joy and peace: "A highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it." (Isa 35:8 NIV)

The results of following God's highway are out-of-this world: "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert." (Isa 35:5-6 NIV)

But how is this possible? I have never seen such a highway built in my life!

But it does exist. The reason why so many don't see it is because it is build on a foundation of love, hope and faith. Only the eyes of those who have the faith of a mustard seed (See Mat 17:20) can see the road and walk on it.

The problem is that most of us live by sight and not by faith! "The world's sin is unbelief in me." (John 16:9 TLB)

Others put their faith in people through whom miracles are performed. Sounds pretty safe, doesn't it? But just because someone does miracles doesn't mean they necessarily know the builder of the highway: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matt 7:21-23 NIV)

Only One can ask us: "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" (Matt 9:28 NIV)

And if our faith is firmly founded on Him, He will confirm that "According to your faith will it be done to you." (Matt 9:29 NIV) Only then will the sick be healed. Only then will the blind see and the deaf hear (See Matt 9: 18-34). Only then will we experience the side effects of walking on that Highway. The Builder will reveal Himself to us and an unbreakable friendship will emerge that will last for eternity.

Such faith is only possible by relying on Jesus' faith. Our own faith is far too corrupted to even reach the category of mustard seed faith! "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see." (Acts 3:16 NIV)

All we can do honestly is to exclaim: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24 NIV)

There is a highway of faith build by God and only those who rely on His son's faith can enjoy it! It leads straight to eternity!

"Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it." (Matt 7:13-14 TLB)

Which road would you prefer to travel on? That mismatched stoned road sure looks fun to drive on, but is our vehicle really a match for such a road?

Rob Chaffart

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Your Sun Will Shine Again

Today's Bible Verse: Ps 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

The mass of warm air drifted in from the west coast. Under the cover of darkness, it approached the mountains. The steep slopes momentarily stopped the fronts easterly progress. More warm air moved in. The pressure built. The mass climbed the sides of the mountains. Within minutes, it slipped over the towering peaks and continued its eastward march across the Treasure Valley and the City of Boise. It covered the valley and trapped the cold air beneath it. A layer of fog formed between them.

In the morning, I slapped the snooze button several times, climbed from bed, showered, and made my way downstairs. The morning light was muted. I looked outside. The sky was a uniform grey. In the four months we'd lived in Idaho, we'd rarely seen clouds. The skies were always blue; the sun always shined; but not that morning.

I drove to work. The sun, which normally blinded me when it rose above the mountains, wasn't there. I took a walk at lunch. The cold, damp wind made me shiver.

The layer of fog in the sky seemed close enough to touch. The beautiful mountains were gone.

A week went by. On Monday morning, I went to work. The sky remained grey.

The temperatures hovered in the low thirties. "Mike?" My boss stepped up to my cubicle.

"Did you drive into the mountains last weekend?"

"No."

"You should have. It was 48 degrees and sunny up there."

"You're kidding?"

"Remember, I told you about the temperature inversions we get here?"

"Is that what this is?" I asked.

"This is it." He smiled. "It's cold and grey down here, but up there, the sun is shining and the temperatures are usually ten degrees warmer. We sweated in our ski suits last weekend."

"I'm jealous. How long does it last?"

"There's no telling. It can last days or weeks. We get them every winter."

Day-after-day, the sky never changed. I'd never seen so many shades of grey.

The warm air not only trapped the cold air, it trapped the pollutants too. The air grew stale. There was no escape for the air in the valley. It lay trapped between the mountains to the west and east and the warm air above.

The inversion lasted for more than three weeks. I was talking to my wife on my way home from work one evening and remarked, "I can't see a thing. The sun is in my eyes."

"What sun?" She asked.

There it was. The sun was back. "Ginny! It's the sun! I can't believe it!"

"We don't have sun here. The sky's grey."

In the distance, I saw the grey bank of fog. By the time I arrived home, I was back under its shadow again, but the next morning the skies were clear and the sun bathed everything with its warm glow. It was finally over.

It shocked me. On my way home, the sun was high in the sky. Before the inversion, the sun would slip below the horizon, as I drove home each night. After the inversion, the sun was still up, even when I arrived home. It was like Boise stood still for three weeks as the rest of the universe moved forward.

The experience reminds me of people who pray when all is dark in their lives.

"God, where are you when I need you? Why can't I feel and see you?"

You can't see him, but he's there. The fog blinds. He shines. The fog burns off. His love warms. Behind the fog, God does what he always does. God waits until you are ready to reach through the fog and seek him.

Are you experiencing an inversion? Don't worry. Have faith. Your sun will shine again.

Michael T. Smith

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Some of the devotionals in our “Nugget” newsletter are written by Answers2prayer subscribers. Answers2Prayer welcomes these mini-sermons! If you feel that God has inspired you to write down a special Bible-based message, please send it in for publication, so that everyone on this list of subscribers may benefit from what God has said to you!

Worry-Free Living. Is This Even Possible?

Today's Bible Verse: Matt 6:26 Are you not much more valuable than they?

It was just brought to my mind that an often overlooked illicit lover of our soul is our inclination to worry constantly.

Jesus was clear about this when he addressed this issue in Matthew 6: 25-34. His reasoning was simple and quite relevant to all of us:

1. "Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matt 6:26 NIV) We are immensely important to God! This is why His Son willingly died on a cross for us! This is why He paid the price of our sins with His own blood! This is why He is offering eternity to us! He wants us to draw closer and closer to Him! How can we worry when God puts so much importance on me, you and my friend Joe?

2. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matt 6:27 NIV) I never met anyone who was able to lead a healthier, more satisfying life by worrying! In fact recent studies indicate: "over 85% of all that we worry about never happens." (See http://www.communicationsdoctor.com/articles/worry.pdf ) Worrying is a worthless pursuit! It doesn't add anything to the quality of our lives! In fact it keeps us from enjoying real life!

3. "O you of little faith?" (Matt 6:30 NIV) God is not impressed with our worry. He sees right through it to the root of our problem: We don't trust Him in all of our circumstances!

4. "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them." (Matt 6:32 NIV) If our Heavenly Daddy knows about our needs, then why do we need to worry about them? Isn't He our Provider in all things?

5. "Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34 NIV) One thing is for certain: Trouble awaits us on a daily basis! We can either take these opportunities to worry ourselves into basket cases, or as opportunities to discover the awesome provisions of our loving Father.

When my Father convinced me I had to let my oldest son join the mission team to Kenya, He also provided me with a great learning opportunity. If my son had God's blessing, I really had nothing to worry about. Although he might be thousands of miles away, in a country that could be in turmoil at any time, although planes were crashing left and right, and although my son was only 15 when he left, he was in God's hands and I really could relax! After all, my son couldn't have been in better hands!

Somehow God gave me the necessary inner peace, and although I longed for his emails, I was completely at ease about his situation.

One day at work, several of my colleagues were asking me about my son. One of them blurted out: "How can you sit there so relaxed? I would be a nut case if I were you!"

I smiled and told her "It is a great learning opportunity for him (and for me as well)!"

"Yes, but what if something bad happens to him?"

I wanted to tell her that there are no ifs in God's vocabulary. Instead, I just smiled. I would later realize that my colleagues were more worried about my son than I was! How was that possible?

It's simple. God gave me that peace and He can give it to you as well!

Worry-free living is indeed possible if we rely 100% on God at all times. This why He encourages us to: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28-29 NIV)

To be honest, I am not always worry-free. If you don't believe me, ask my wife! Sometimes I am blinded by my circumstances. That's when worries clog my vision!

"Papa, I'm 16 now and can get my learner's permit. I would like to learn how to drive!"

This is really worry-some! Or… should I leave this in God's hands as well?

Rob Chaffart

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Control-Alt-Delete

Today's Bible Verse: 1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.

In our town, many of the churches have signs out front with challenging messages on them. Recently, I saw one that said, "Too bad when we mess up, we couldn't press Control-Alt-Delete and have a new start." In the PC computer world, that combination reboots our computers, and it works quickly. What a wonderful invention!

My thoughts immediately turned to what we Christians are to do when we realize how we've messed up. We can confess that sin and failure to Jesus, and He forgives us, takes away our sin, and gives us a new start -- many times a day if need be. Done deal -- quicker than pressing three keys on a computer keyboard. Isn't it wonderful? Let's run to Him often.

Ezekiel 11:19a - I will give them a new heart and a new mind. (GNB)

Unfortunately, the Control-Alt-Delete combination often leaves messes on our computers -- fragments of messed-up files that have to be dealt with later. So, too, in our lives: some of our sins and failures have lasting consequences that have to be dealt with, often for years. Those circumstances happened. We can't change them. But God is an opportunist, and He can use them to change us, to change our minds, our attitudes, our thinking, so that we are conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God -- what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. (GNB)

Romans 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (NIV)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for forgiving us. Thank You for giving us so many new starts. Thank You that You understand our frailties and still accept us. Thank You that You can use every situation to bring glory to Your name. Help us to learn from our mistakes. Help us to listen to Your still, small voice. Help us to let You transform us inwardly, so that we may know Your will. Amen.

Judy Miller gjmiller@telusplanet.net Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca

Announcements:

I would like to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all of our wonderful moms out there! You sure make a difference to your children. God bless you all!

A Change of Perspective. Nairobi Here I come! Part 8

Today's Bible Verse: Matt 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Birthdays are fun. Or they can be, as long as you are under forty! After that, for some reason, some of us prefer they didn't exist!

There are some birthdays that are more special than others. I remember all the glamour of becoming sixteen. The year I turned sixteen was the same year that Ringo Star released his famous song, "Sweet Sixteen". He couldn't have coordinated it any better, because there was at least one sixteen year-old who felt very special!

Other than this, however, being sixteen didn't make me feel any different. The year went by just like usual, without any special charm. Everybody around me in the streets of Oostende treated me the same: with indifference and sad faces. It didn't matter for them whether I was sixteen or a thousand! Who was I any way? A tiny speck in a sea of faces?

This year my oldest son celebrated his sixteenth birthday as well, except it was a couple of years after mine (maybe I'm stretching the truth a little…I can't help it, I forget easily!) He wasn't able to share this special day with his family, however, because he was in Kenya on a mission trip at the time. As parents we worried if anyone would go out of their way to make the day special for him. After all, it's not every year that one turns sixteen!

Our worries were unfounded. He was greeted with open arms, and his birthday was celebrated with not just one cake, but two! The entire orphanage attended the first celebration. More than seventy people hugged my son and made him feel special. They even cut the birthday cake with a machete. Very unusual, don't you think? He then went back to the university where he and the missions team were staying and had his second cake, specially hand-made in the shape of a heart by one of the missionaries. Sweet sixteen…

He didn't have to deal with the indifferent, sad faces, either. He found himself surrounded by bright smiles on the streets of Nairobi. The local people would talk with him, put their arms around his shoulder, and even ask him to take their picture to remember heir friendship by. We sure could learn a thing or two from these friendly Kenyan people.

If only we could put to practice one of Jesus' golden rules: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matt 7:12 NIV)

Do we really need to walk with sad faces to feel accepted in our society? Would breaking the norm really be an insult? Or could it be that being different by smiling once in a while might cheer up someone in need? Do we really need to act indifferent to be part of our society's mentality? Would others be repulsed if we showed genuine care? Is it possible that we could bring hope by daring to be different?

Wouldn't treating others the way we want them to treat us revolutionize our world? Wouldn't real love make people stop in their tracks and ask themselves if there really is more to life? Wouldn't loving others like Jesus does does open the doors wide to the greatest piece of news ever, that God loves us? That He loves us so much that His Son willingly sacrificed Himself, so that eternity could be made possible for us (See John 3:16)?

We don't need to treat others the way they treat us. We don't need to walk our streets the same way others do. We don't need to be indifferent to fit into the mould. We must remember that we are different! And we can be proud of that! Jesus came into our lives and ever since we have abundant joy bursting from our souls. We shouldn't hide it. Instead we should let it bubble out into our lives. Only then will we, just like the people of Kenya did for my son, make a difference in our surroundings.

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." (1 Peter 1:8 NIV)

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35 NIV)

I wonder where my younger son will celebrate his sixteenth birthday? We want it to be memorable… Iran perhaps? Maybe. What about Sudan? Possible. Hmmm, I better think about that one…

Rob Chaffart

Sight problems?

Today's Bible Verse: Colossians 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

Some years back, I went through it all! I mean of hearing the dreaded diagnosis that I have ‘sight’ problem. Whilst reflecting on that moment of discouragement some time later, the good Lord in his own way comforted me that it is good to have ‘a sight problem’ as long as it has to do with you being able to see ‘eternity’ clearly, even if earthly objects are a blur!

According to medical science, there are usually two types of ‘sight problems’. Shortsightedness means being see nearby objects clearly even while struggling to see faraway objects, whereas long-sightedness is exactly the opposite condition. But in the spiritual realm, if you are an eternity-sighted Christian, the good news is that the earthly problems, however big, would “appear small”.

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” – Colossians 3:1 (NLT)

Time, we all ‘developed’ eternity-sighted problem. Right?

Prayer: Father in Heaven, may our sight be always set on what is eternal and not on what is temporal. Amen.

Suresh Manoharan manoharansuresh@yahoo.com

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Butterfly Kisses. Nairobi Here I come! Part 7

Today's Bible Verse: Matt 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

A fundraiser… Not an ordinary one, not a lavish one, not one to increase some organization's wealth or to pad someone's wallet… The children sheltered at Christ Our Refuge Children's Home, in Nairobi, Kenya, made some exotic art work to be sold at our church in Canada. The children took the wings from dead butterflies and glued them to paper to make unforgettable masterpieces. Some took human form, others the form of a dwelling, but the one that caught my eye was in the form of a colourful parrot. I can't even imagine the hours of work that was poured into these works of art, and it was obvious that there was also plenty of love and prayers put into the pictures as well. And that's how they were received by our church. It was like we were receiving butterfly kisses straight from Africa!

What would the orphanage do with the money they received? They use it to save more of the homeless children from the slums of Nairobi. They want to reach out to more and more of the kids no one wants! The Undesirables! The kinds that otherwise would end up in crime, prostitution, and disease! They want to offer them shelter, food, an education, and a real purpose in life.

What drives this orphanage? Their love for the lost children in Nairobi. They are fully aware where most of these abandoned children are heading: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matt 7:13-14 NIV)

It is no life to sleep on the street in a cardboard box with an empty belly! It is no life to have to beg or rely on crime and prostitution to get food to survive! It is no life to face AIDS, desperate and alone!

But what about those of us in the Western world? We have so much more, yet do we fair any better? We have homes, food in abundance and security, but how many of us really enjoy true living? There are so few who aren't addicted to nasty habits that keep them from enjoying what we could have been. There are so few of us who truly walk around with a big smile on our faces!

Are we truly living, or do we barely exist from one moment to another?

There are a few who really enjoy real living. I am not talking about the con artist who pretends all is well while his whole life is falling apart. I'm talking about those I'm acquainted with who really, truly enjoy every moment of their life. These rare people all have one thing in common: they truly know the One who brought them life!

Only One person was able to declare with full confidence: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 NIV)

Don't believe those who say that every way leads to heaven! It's just not true. Go to the slums of Nairobi, or visit the life of the alcoholic or the drug addict, and then tell me if all roads truly lead to heaven! If heaven is just one big hangover after another, I don't want any part of it! That's not real living!

Only One is the way! Only One is the truth! Only one is life, real life! Only One can bring us to heaven! Jesus is the One who can give each one a true purpose! He is the One who can make us truly enjoy life, even though our circumstances may be far from ideal. He is the one who can give us true hope!

His love is more than enough to envelop anyone who opens up to Him, asking Him to provide them with real living. And real living He will truly provide!

Ask those kids at Christ Our Refuge Children's Home. They know the difference between destructive living and real living!

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." (Eph 2:4-6 NIV)

Real living is available to you as well. Come to the One who can provide it to you and welcome Him with open arms into your life. If you need any help with this, don't hesitate to send me an email. Jesus loves you and I would like for you to experience that reality!

Rob Chaffart

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The Right Thing to Do

Today's Bible Verse: Prov 2:6-9 For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair — every good path.

Darius and Johntel have a lot in common.

They are both talented high school seniors. They both love basketball. They are both captains of their respective high school basketball teams.

But on one Saturday night in February, they were forever linked in the minds of all who were present for a mutual act of courage, sportsmanship and respect.

The remarkable moment came during a game between Darius's small town Illinois team and Johntel's big city team in Wisconsin -- a game that almost wasn't played.

Just hours before tip-off Johntel's mother lost her five-year battle with cervical cancer.

Her death was sudden and devastating to all who knew her, and Johntel's coach wanted to cancel the game. But Johntel insisted that the game should be played, and so with heavy hearts his teammates prepared to honor their captain's wishes and to play -- and hopefully win -- without him.

What they weren't prepared for was Johntel's appearance in the gym mid-way through the first half.

As soon as he saw him, Johntel's coach called a time out, and players and fans surrounded the grieving young man to offer love and support. The coach asked him if he wanted to sit on the bench with the team.

"No," Johntel said. "I want to play."

Of course his team was thrilled to have him.

But because Johntel wasn't on the pre-game roster, putting him in the game at that point would result in a technical foul and two free throws for the opposing team.

Johntel's coach was OK with that. He could see that this was the teenager's way of coping with his loss -- the points didn't matter.

The opposing team understood the situation and told the referees to let Johntel play and to forget the technical foul. The referees argued that a rule is a rule, and the free throws would have to be taken before the game could proceed.

For possibly the first time in basketball history, officials had to force a team to accept and take the technical free throws.

As team captain, Darius volunteered to take the shots.

One would have expected he was looking for an opportunity to keep his team close in a hard-fought game against a big city school. Or one could even assume he wanted a chance to add a couple of points to his personal statistics.

In either case, one would be wrong.

Darius took the ball from the official, looked at the basket and calmly shot the ball.

Now, basketball purists know that the free throw line is 15 feet from the basket. Darius's first shot only traveled about 4 feet. His second shot only traveled 2.

Immediately Johntel and his teammates understood what Darius was doing. They stood and applauded the gesture of sportsmanship as Darius made his way back to his bench. So did all of the big city fans.

"I did it for the guy who lost his mom," Darius told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after the game. "It was the right thing to do."

For those who are concerned about such things, Johntel's team rode the emotion of the night to a 15-point victory. But as the two teams met after the game for pizza and sodas, nobody on either side was too concerned with wins or losses or personal stats.

"This is something our kids will hold for a lifetime," Darius's coach said. "They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night."

Joseph Walker

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Would you like to make a difference in the world? Why not join the Answers2Prayer team? We have many volunteer positions available. By joining in, you can help in carrying out the Great Commission: Matt 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." NIV

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