Daily Devotional – May 25

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;

1 CORINTHIANS 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Daily Devotional – May 24

SERIOUSLY 

The story goes that a certain court jester went too far one day and insulted his king. The king became so infuriated he sentenced the jester to be executed. His court prayed upon the king to have mercy for this man who had served him well for so many years. After a time, the king relented only enough to give the jester his choice as to how he would like to die. True to form, the jester replied, “If it’s all the same to you, my Lord, I’d like to die of old age.”

Certainly in this case, a good sense of humor saved the man’s life. It’s true for us as well. We may not be faced with a situation where our wit will save us from an execution, but our sense of humor and the ability to laugh at things has proven health benefits that extend and improve our quality of life.

Norman Cousins, in his book Anatomy of an Illness, wrote about how he cured himself of cancer by laughing a good part of each day. He rented films of comedies and watched them for hours on end in his hospital room. He had nothing to lose since he’d been diagnosed as terminal. His “experiment” turned out to be a classic example of the healing powers of laughter. If it worked for Cousins with a life-threatening illness, it can work for us to enhance and protect our good health. We should laugh often and heartily. It’s good for our digestion and our disposition. Besides, life’s too important to take seriously. 

Today’s assignment- Look in the mirror and laugh at yourself.  Learn to do that regularly and without a mirror and you will live a better life.

Author: Michael Angier

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Daily Devotional – May 23

I CREATED YOU!

One day, as usually was the case, a young waif, a little girl, stood at the street corner begging for food, money or wathever she could get. Now this girl was wearing very tattered clothes; she was dirty and quite disheveled.

As it happens, a well-to-do young man passed that corner without giving the girl a second look. But when he returned to his expensive home, his happy and comfortable family, and his well-laden dinner table, his thoughts returned to the young waif and he became very angry at God for allowing such conditions to exist.

He reproached God, saying, “How can you let this happens? Why don’t you do something to help this girl?”

Then he heard God in the depths of his being respond by saying, “I did. I created You!”

Author: Brian Cavanaugh, T.O.R., The Sower’s Seeds

James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Christianity 101

MORE on the Separation of Church and State issue.

Disclaimer: 

The articles posted on the Berean require judgement and thought on the part of the reader.  The Berean does not entirely endorse all of the article content, but rather offers them as a viewpoint for serious consideration.

Daily Devotional – May 21

CHILDREN

“No.”

“NO.”

“I said, NO!”

Parents with children around ages one or two know that one of the most common words to your vocabulary becomes “no.” 

Get used to it for the next 15-20 years.   

When a very young King Solomon assumed the throne he pointed out the obvious to God:

I Kings 3:7 & 9 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I [am but] a little child: I know not [how] to go out or come in…Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

Solomon was wise enough at 18 years to recognize that he didn’t have the maturity to know when to get out of the rain, much less guide his people in in the right direction.  Solomon was smart enough to realize that itt is a mark of maturity to know the difference between right and wrong:

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Immaturity is rampant.  There are many adult children who fail to realize they lack wisdom, much less have the ability to discern right from wrong.   

As we mature in the Lord, discernment will become easier.  Till then, get used to hearing “no!”

Daily Devotional – May 18

HAPPY FRIDAY!

[YOUTUBE=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyifam_z9w0]

Daily Devotional – May 17

JESUS IS BACK?

Jesus has come back to earth!  He is disguised–could be a man or woman, and he is in your church!

If this were true, what would you do?

(Today’s devotional brought to you courtesy of The Berean Commentators)

Christianity 101

For those interested in furthering their education, The Berean is going to periodically post interesting, hard-hitting articles from around the web that articulate with clarity matters scriptural.  The articles will be carefully chosen to add perspective, with an emphasis on maximizing our tight schedules–a lot of info in as small a time possible.

These links will be under the title, Christianity 101.

Here is an excellent article on the concepts of our founding fathers religious beliefs, the common thinking and perception that the United States was founded on “Judeo-Christian” principles, and separation of church and state.  Its assertions may surprise some, may affirm others.  

Daily Devotional – May 16

NOTE: It has been the practice of The Berean to post nothing over one or two paragraphs, but in this case an exception is made.

James 2

A LESSON TO TEACH

Her name was Mrs. Thompson. As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie.

Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row,slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs.Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn’t play well with the other children that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath.And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs.Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X’s and then putting a big “F” at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child’s past records and she put Teddy’s off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy’s first grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners…he is a joy to be around.”

His second grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.”

His third grade teacher wrote, “His mother’s death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn’t show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren’t taken.”

Teddy’s fourth grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class.”

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy’s. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.

Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume.

But she stifled the children’s laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, “Mrs.Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to,” After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she discovered what it meant to teach.

The story doesn’t end here–

Daily Devotional – May 15

GARDENING

Plant three rows of peas:
Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash:
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be obedient
Lettuce really love one another

Water freely with patience and love, and you will reap what you sow

Author Unknown.

ECCLESIASTES 3:1-11
To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

• A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;
• A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
• A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
• A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
• A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
• A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.  He hath made every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.