Blog Entries

The Bigger Half

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

It's like a dessert-lovers paradise!

Hebrews 7:1-10

Reference: v.4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! (NIV Bible)

Explore: There's a cafe down the road from my house that makes amazing sweets. There are mini mud cakes, strawberry tartlets, massive coconut balls, cheesecakes and many slices. It's like a dessert-lovers paradise! You just stand before the cabinets in awe of all the yummy-ness behind the glass. When I purchase some of these delights to share with friends I always suggest that we cut them in half. This isn't so we are limiting our sugar intake. Oh no, we still have a full piece but it is made up of two different halves so we are getting the flavour from a number of sweets! You know when your friend really loves you when they serve you up the bigger half.

Application: When it comes to something close to our hearts (like dessert!) it is often tempting to keep it all for ourselves. However a truly generous person will always offer what they have to others. Abraham showed many actions of generosity in his life. He helped his nephew out, even when he didn't deserve it, he offered hospitality to strangers he'd never met before, and then in this passage of Hebrews we hear that Abraham gave ten percent of his 'plunder' to the High Priest. What a generous man. It's interesting that we think giving ten percent is being generous and yet God gave us 100%. God is so generous that He gave us His own Son so that we could have a greater life. That's greater than the bigger half of a dessert; that's greater than ten percent of your plunder; that's the greatest gift anyone could ever give. That's the generous God we worship.

Prayer: Lord, we will never understand the breadth of Your generosity. May we be truly thankful for all that You do. Amen.

What do you have to be thankful for today?

Consistent Behaviours

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

I know that many women are suspicious of their husbands when they bring home flowers.

Hebrews 6:13-20

Reference: v.18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. (NIV Bible)

Explore: We are often judged by our previous actions - or lack there of. I know that many women are suspicious of their husbands when they bring home flowers. If this is not a regular occurrence then the wife wonders why the husband feels the need to placate her with a gift! Or if a child is being particularly moody the parents will start to look for reasons why. With some children, at a certain age, being moody is a normal way of life! But for a child who is generally happy and content to suddenly start to regularly misbehave then the parents will start to investigate into what other thing is going on for that child. People generally have consistent behaviours and when we get to know someone well we are usually able to predict what they may say or do.

Application: God has consistent behaviours too. We can not always assume that we will know how or why God will act, but He does have certain consistencies. This passage in Hebrews picks up on a few of God's consistencies: He does not lie and He always keeps His promises. One way we can see this is by looking back through history - whether Biblical history or talking to people we know who have had faith in God for an extended period of time - and we will soon discover that this is true. We can see throughout the written Biblical history time and time again where God has spoken the truth and kept His promises. The great thing about God is that He is not about to change. God will continue to speak the truth into our lives and will never break a promise to us. We can hold firmly, seeing it in other people's lives, and believing it in our own life too, that God will remain faithful to those who are faithful to Him.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I doubt You. You have shown such faithfulness to your followers in the past. May I hold firmly to the belief that You will continue to do so. Amen.

When has God kept His promise to you?

Recurring Dream

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Now, I'm sure all you dream gurus are going crazy reading into my stress dream...

Hebrews 6:1-12

Reference: v.1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God... (NIV Bible)

Explore: I have a recurring dream. Every time I am stressed I dream that I have to go back to school. I am usually repeating the final year of primary school or secondary school and during the dream something always goes wrong. Often in my dream I have a test or an exam yet I don't know what the subject is and I realise that I have not studied. Sometimes I'll get lost walking around the school campus or I'll lose my study books and not be able to complete a set task. Now, I'm sure all you dream gurus are going crazy reading into my stress dream, but its always a clear indication for me that I'm feeling out of my depth in my real life.

Application: It's interesting that when I am feeling out of control my mind takes me back to a time when I was less mature. God desires for us to be moving towards maturity in Him. We know that while we're on this earth we will never reach a full knowledge of God, but our desire as disciples is to be moving forward in our relationship with Him. When life gets crazy and we feel out of control we often fall back into old habits and don't prioritize God. We forget to pray or we don't have time to read the Bible. And yet it's at these times when we really need God more. If we desire to grow our faith towards maturity then we need to put our faith into action. It's in those times that we find our relationships deepen and grow in Christ.

Prayer: Lord, help me to stay strong in my faith, no matter what is going on in my life. May I strive to grow in maturity in You. Amen.

What are you doing to help your faith to mature?

Hide and Seek

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

I hid in the same place every time - our bedroom cupboard.

Hebrews 5:1-14

Reference: v.7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. (NIV Bible)

Explore: Although it's hard to believe, but when I was a child I was really quite shy. I was incredibly observant and noticed everything that went on, but I was well aware that I often went unnoticed. I can remember, when I was about five, playing a game of Hide and Seek with our older neighbours. I hid in the same place every time - our bedroom cupboard. When my older neighbour came to find me he opened up the bedroom cupboard and looked around, pretending not to see me curled up in a little ball on the floor. 'No one in here,' he said and closed the door again. For a while I thought I was so clever to have found such a great hiding place but after some time I got bored in the cupboard. I realised that it was lonely on my own and I wish that I hadn't have hidden quite so well! There are times in our lives when it's nice to be on our own, however there are times when it's nice to have some company.

Application: When Jesus was on this earth I can only imagine that He would have felt lonely. No one else really understood His calling and His purpose. He regularly had crowds of people around Him and yet people often missed the point of His message. People came and went but rarely did people notice Him for who He was. It would seem that even God looked at Him on earth but then just left Him there, like me in the bottom of the cupboard. But that is far from the truth. God heard the cry of Jesus and listened to His prayers. It doesn't mean that God took away Jesus' calling and His purpose, but He did hear Jesus and gave His life eternal purpose. Often we think that if we call out to God that He will take away all the hard stuff in our lives. But that's not true. He does hear us and see us, but He also allows the suffering to happen so that we too may be 'made perfect' in Him.

Prayer: Lord, often we feel alone and unheard. But You promise to always be there for us. Thank you for never leaving us alone. Give us the strength to endure the suffering so that we are 'made perfect' in You. Amen.

When do you feel lonely?

I Understand

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The one thing I remember from my Pastoral Care classes at College was never to say, "I understand."

Hebrews 4:14-16

Reference: v.15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. (NIV Bible)

Explore: The one thing I remember from my Pastoral Care classes at College was never to say, "I understand." Really, we can never fully understand what someone else is going through and when someone says, 'I understand', it can sometimes undervalue the breadth of emotion that the person is really feeling. However, there are some people who have more of an understanding than others. When my father passed away there were many people who had well-meaning things to say. They went out of their way to assist our family and their support was much appreciated. But I remember chatting to a mate of mine who had lost his father to the same disease only a couple of years earlier. Yes, his father was a completely different person to my father and my mate would have had many different emotions to me. But when my mate spoke to me at the funeral I knew that he had could really sympathize with what I was going through. He never muttered the words, 'I understand', but I could see in his eyes that he could appreciate my loss.

Application: This is the same look that I think Jesus gives each one of us. He may never have gone through the exact same situation as us, but He is someone who truly 'sympathizes with our weaknesses.' As you read through the stories of Jesus' life you may not see if He has lost his job, broken his arm or been in a difficult relationship. But we worship a God who sympathizes with us. He became human so that He could connect us to God in a more real way, and He truly does sympathize with what we have to go through. How fortunate we are to have a God who sympathizes and not a distant god who leaves us on our own.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for showing us your sympathy. Help us to cling to You in our times of need. Amen.

What is an area of weakness or pain in your life? How do you think God sympathizes with you?

A Live Experience

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

I hate learning new songs.

Hebrews 4:1-13

Reference: v.2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. (NIV Bible)

Explore: I'm not the kind of person who can pick up a song really quickly. A mate of mine only has to hear a song played twice on the radio before he knows all the words. I am quite the opposite. It takes me a couple of times of hearing the song just to know whether I like it or not. And then if I want to be able to ever sing along with the words I have to make a concerted effort to really listen to the song and play it over and over all in a row. Because of this, I hate learning new songs. I like to be able to sing along with everyone else, but it always feels like I'm about 10 weeks behind! That is, unless I hear the song live. If I'm at a conference or a live concert I find that I pick up the song much more quickly. I think there's something about experiencing the whole atmosphere that helps me to connect more with the song. I've found that if I have an experience of the song then it connects with me more and I'm able to pick it up almost as quickly as everyone else.

Application: In one sense, this is the same when it comes to learning more about God. I can read about his faithfulness and I can hear people talking about their understanding of God's faithfulness but until I experience it for myself, then it is like a song I have only heard once and have not really picked up. But when I go through a difficult time and rely on God it is then that I see that He truly is faithful to those who love Him. It is in my experience of God that I learn more about Him. But I have to be open to experiencing God. Just like I have to put in the hard yards to learn a new song, I also have to put in the hard yards to experience God. I need to keep reading God's word, learning more about Him and spending time talking to Him. Then, when a situation occurs and I put my faith into action, it's then that all that I have learned becomes real and I experience God in a deeper way.

Prayer: Lord, I really want to experience You in more of a real way. Help me to be diligent with my faith so that I can truly experience Your love and faithfulness. Amen.

What area of your faith do you find is a struggle?

More Than A Self-High-Five

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

I feel like every time I accomplish something, even though it may seem small, it is like I've conquered the world!

Hebrews 3:7-19

Reference: v.13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. (NIV Bible)

Explore: I have just recently started learning a new skill. As children we are constantly learning new things nearly every day, but as adults we tend to stick with what we know. However, I've just started exploring the realm of radio. There are similar skills used in radio to what I have done in the past, however there is a whole new set of skills that I am having to learn from scratch. I feel like every time I accomplish something, even though it may seem small, it is like I've conquered the world! Most of the time I am the only one who notices these accomplishments, so I'll give myself a self-high-five and move on. But there are a number of people who I work with who are great at noticing my small achievements too. Even though they have learnt these skills years ago they are really good at congratulating me on my small successes. It's this encouragement that helps me to strive for the next goal and the next hopeful success.

Application: While we are able to accomplish good things on our own, it's great when we have the support and encouragement of the people around us. I love the verse mentioned above from Hebrews when it tell us to encourage people "as long as it is called today." I love that, it's like a poetic way of saying, "Encourage people all the time!" While we should not have to rely on the encouragement of others, it certainly goes a long way to assist us in our journey.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the people you have placed in my life. May I hear the encouragements but also be willing to encourage others. Amen.

Who needs your encouragement today?

Faithful Friends

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

They noticed that some of their friends were not as enamoured by their new addition as they were.

Hebrews 3:1-6

Reference: v.6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (NIV Bible)

Explore: I was watching a TV show the other day about a couple that adopted a baby. They loved their new child so much and dedicated their life to her. However, they noticed that some of their friends were not as enamoured by their new addition as they were. In fact one friend only really wanted to hang out with the couple when the baby wasn't around. While the show was done in a humorous way, it did show how people could change in different situations.

Application: When I look back over my life I realise that I have been through many different changes. From school days to employment and then all the relationships in between, I can see how much my life has gone through many transitions. And yet, all the way through I can see that no matter where I am and what I am doing, Jesus has been there with me. He has been the one constant, faithful part of my life throughout it all. When I am struggling, He has been there; when I've achieved some success, He has been there; and when I've just gone through the humdrum of the day's routine, He has been there. Nowhere will we find a friend so faithful. While we strive to live for God, we can never out-do His faithfulness. He is always there for us, and always will be.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being faithful to us. We don't deserve it, but we are better off for having You in our lives. Amen.

When have you experienced God's faithfulness?

Honour and Glory

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Everyone wants their own type of honour and glory.

Hebrews 2:5-18

Reference: v.9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (NIV Bible)

Explore: Think of someone famous that is honoured for their work. Some that come to my mind are: Heath Ledger who won Best Supporting Actor in 2009 for his role as The Joker; Usain Bolt who won Olympic gold in 2008 for the 100 metre sprint; and what about Bill Gates who is - according to the 2010 Forbes list - the second wealthiest man in the world. All of these awards show great achievements and there are many people who strive for a similar title.

Application: When you look at the world you see many people striving for fame, success and fortune. Everyone wants their own type of honour and glory. Even Jesus has received his fair share. However Jesus was not crowned with glory and honour by accumulating large amounts of money or finding vast popularity or achieving excellence in sport. He received honour and glory by suffering death. That seems like the total opposite to the people mentioned above, but the more your find out about Jesus the more you can see that He did not live for personal gain, and yet He still received honour and glory. As Jesus led by example we are challenged about how we strive for honour and glory. We need to be aware of the glory we seek and continually look back to Jesus as our guide.

Prayer: Lord, it is so easy for us to desire the honour and glory that the world supplies. Help us to look to You as the leading example of how we are to live. Amen.

Where are you seeking your honour and glory from?

Nodding Off

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

It's one of the most mesmerizing things that, when I notice it, I can't stop staring!

Hebrews 2:1-4

Reference: v.1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. (NIV Bible)

Explore: Have you ever watched someone trying to stop themselves from falling asleep? It's one of the most mesmerizing things that, when I notice it, I can't stop staring! Having sat through many sermons and lectures in my life I find that I have been privy to such viewing on many occasions. I find it hilarious to watch someone as they do their best to stay awake while their eyelids have a totally different agenda. The initial signs come when the person's eyelids get very heavy and as their eyes start to glaze their lids force themselves down the pupil. If the person is quick enough they can catch their lids before they get all the way down but you don't have to wait long before the lids get heavy again. I love that the solution to heavy lids that people go for is to do a couple of quick blinks in succession in the vain attempt to teach the eyelids to stay open. But you know someone is really struggling when they get the nods. This usually occurs after the eye lids have conquered the eye, which seems to prompt the head to start dipping. The chin will slowly start to make its way down to the chest, just like the lids have forced their way down the pupil. But when the person realises what is happening they will jerk their head up quickly. The professionals will be quick enough to try to cover this head jerking motion by pretending to nod and agree with the speaker, but we all know what's really going on. It's always great to be the one watching the person fight off sleep, however we all know that it's bound to happen to us at some stage too.

Application: When life gets busy it's hard to be attentive all the time. And when life gets chaotic we find ourselves trying hard not to nod off during sermons or lectures! However, it seems that sometimes we can get so preoccupied with what's happening in other parts of our life that we start to nod off when it comes to our faith. We become so busy with work, family and social outings that when it comes to finding time to be still and know that God is there, that's when we allow our eyelids to have a mind of their own. The book of Hebrews gives great advice to people struggling in their faith and one of the first instructions the writer gives is to pay attention. Let's not nod off in the most important area of our life but sit up and take notice of what God has to say to us.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we give you second best. Amen.

How attentive of your faith have you been lately?

Words To Live By

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This segment only takes about 30 seconds each time but it is amazing to hear from the listeners how helpful the 'Words' have been.

Hebrews 1:1-14

Reference: v.8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom." (NIV Bible)

Explore: On the Christian radio station in Melbourne they broadcast 'Words to Live By'. A couple of times each hour the host will read a verse from the Bible. These verses are chosen to assist people in their daily walk and to remind people of what God tells us through the Bible. This segment only takes about 30 seconds each time but it is amazing to hear from the listeners how helpful the 'Words' have been. Again and again the station hears of stories where people have been really struggling with something in their life. While they are listening to the radio they hear one of the Words to Live By and they find the assurance and the encouragement they have needed. It's amazing how insightful the Bible can be for us even thousands of years after it has been written.

Application: There are often times in our lives where we need reassurance from God. Even in the early church, although they had started off so passionately, they found it hard to continue in their faith. When the writer of Hebrews wrote to the church they knew that the church was starting to falter in its belief in Jesus. And so the writer fills the beginning of the letter with verses from the Old Testament - verses that would have been familiar to the members of the church - to remind them how Jesus was the fulfilment of God's plan. Often when we start to doubt our faith, or struggle in life, we stop reading the Bible. It's often the first thing to go from our daily routine when life gets busy or chaotic. However, if we continue to read the Bible through our struggles we will find that there is much encouragement and assistance for our daily life held within the words. God is able to communicate to us in a real way through His Word. All we have to do is read it.

Prayer: Lord, it seems to take so much discipline to stay reading Your Word. Thank You for giving us such a powerful book and may we not take it for granted. Amen.

When has a verse from the Bible meant something to you?

Sin and Forgiveness

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

You could predict, almost to the second, exactly what was going to happen.

Luke 24:36-53

Reference: v.47 "...and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (NIV Bible)

Explore: The church in which I grew up was very structured. You could predict, almost to the second, exactly what was going to happen. The only difference would be which form or song was substituted into the appropriate time slot depending on the theme of the day. Therefore every Sunday - at about 11.12am - I would be lead through a prayer of forgiveness. As a child I had always done something wrong. Whether it was lying to my Mum or saying something nasty to my sister, there was always something I needed to confess to Jesus. Having moved out of that particular denomination I have found that other churches do not have a time during their service that focuses on forgiveness. To begin with I thought this was very freeing and to worship away from the structure and forms was liberating. However, now I see they have their place. I started falling into the habit of never asking for forgiveness and thinking that I didn't really have anything in my life that needed Jesus' grace. Even now I can not remember the last time, during a worship service, that I was led through a time of forgiveness. Thanks to my upbringing I know that this is important and so I have taken the initiative to incorporate it into my own personal prayers.

Explore: As I read through this final passage in Luke I noticed Jesus' words to His disciples. His resurrection was so that 'repentance and forgiveness of sins (could) be preached.' And this is very true when we first come to Jesus. When people become Christians they are redeemed from their old life and made new in Christ. However I think that every day we need to experience and rejoice in Jesus' resurrection. Unfortunately we are constantly drawn back to sinful ways and yet each and every day we are offered God's love and grace, which has been freely given to us through Jesus' sacrifice. Each and every day we can humble ourselves before God because of the sin in our lives. And each and every day we can rejoice that He has offered us His grace.

Prayer: Spend some time in prayer, asking for forgiveness and then rejoicing in the knowledge that God freely gives His grace to all who ask.

Do You Know Jesus

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

It seemed so awkward and unnatural and I can remember feeling quite uncomfortable about his approach.

Luke 24:13-35

Reference: v.17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" (NIV Bible)

Explore: One of my greatest struggles in my faith is sharing my thoughts on Jesus with other people. I don't naturally have an evangelistic nature but I know that all of God's followers are called to share their faith with others. I guess I have seen it done so badly that I don't want to stuff it up. I can remember, as a teenager, I was travelling on a Sydney train with my family. As we were heading into the city a gentleman came and sat amongst us. As soon as someone made eye contact with him he blurted out the question, 'Do you know Jesus?' We were all Christians and dedicated to our faith and as soon as we said so he whipped a Bible from his back pocket and started quoting verses at us. It seemed so awkward and unnatural and I can remember feeling quite uncomfortable about his approach. On the one hand we could not fault his dedication and bravery, but on the other hand we wondered whether he was really going to connect with someone who didn't already believe.

Application: Everything that Jesus did can teach us something. Even after Jesus rose from the dead he was teaching us how to spread the Good News. As Jesus walked the road to Emmaus with two of his followers - both of which did not recognise Him - He shows us how to be positive evangelists. His opening question is, "What are you discussing?" He doesn't bring His own agenda; He doesn't start telling them about what He is thinking about, He starts the conversation by asking them what is on their mind. Once they start talking he is able to contribute and share His wisdom, but He hears from them first. So often we are so gung-ho at sharing our thoughts that we don't stop to find out where the other person is coming from first. It may sound a little back-to-front compared to other people's evangelism techniques, however if it's the way Jesus went about doing things then I think it's heading down the right track.

Prayer: Lord, so often we try to say the write words and yet we forget to hear from others first. Help us to share your love by listening to others. Amen.

How do you go about sharing your faith with others?

Can't Stop Talking

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

When I find a new passion in life I find it very difficult to think about anything else.

Luke 24:1-12

Reference: v.9 When they came back from the tomb, they tod all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. (NIV Bible)

Explore: My family always tease me about being fixated on things. When I find a new passion in life I find it very difficult to think about anything else. I will try my best to hold myself back from talking constantly about my new interest however even in my reserved state my family find that it's still too much. When I started Swing dancing classes I would find myself talking about everything to do with dancing. I would talk about the instructors, the new dance steps, the different shoes to wear, the smelly gentleman we all had to dance with... anything to do with Swing dancing and I was right there. My family would end up just rolling their eyes and try to move the topic of conversation on to something else. I knew that they all thought I was a little crazy but I was so excited about my dancing that I struggled to talk about anything else. Soon enough I moved on from Swing dancing, but it was only a matter of time before I picked up a new passion... and therefore a new topic for all my conversation!

Application: There are times in our lives when we are so excited or totally consumed by something that it's hard to talk about anything else. A couple of days after Jesus had been crucified the women who were close to Him went to His tomb to prepare His body. However, instead of finding His body lying in the tomb they found that it was gone. When they went back to Jesus' disciples they could not stop talking about what they had seen. They must have known that the disciples would think that they were crazy but that didn't stop them from telling them all the details. There are many things that happen in our lives that are interesting and important to tell others about. However, how much do we speak to others about Jesus? How open are we, even with the people we are close to, about how we are going with our faith? We can fill conversations with all sorts of topics that we are interested in, but when it comes to talking about God, or our faith, then we tend to hold our tongue. We know that people might think that we're crazy or overly religious but often we are so worried about other people's perspectives that it stops us from speaking at all. And yet, if Jesus is the most important thing in our lives then we should express that in our conversations.

Prayer: Lord, You are interested in all of our life. May we stop ourselves from cutting You out of conversations and be willing to share our faith in You with all people. Amen.

How often do you talk to others about your faith?

Marriage Breakdown

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A broken relationship is never easy and when there are secrets revealed it makes it all the more complicated.

Luke 23:1-56

Reference: v.47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” (NIV Bible)

Explore: A few years ago a friend of mine went through a marriage separation. A broken relationship is never easy and when there are secrets revealed it makes it all the more complicated. Although neither party was blameless in the marriage breakdown it was remarkable to see the different ways each person dealt with the separation. My friend, although hurt and disappointed, showed amazing acts of grace, tolerance and forgiveness. Positive characteristics that had not been evident in the past came to the fore and I saw a whole new side of my friend that revealed a faithful and Godly person.

Application: We never know what is going to happen to us. No matter how much we control what we do and say we can never fully control the people around us. Hurtful words are said and disappointing actions are displayed which bring our emotions to the surface. The only thing we can control is how we respond. When Jesus walked this earth He was an incredible man of love and justice. And then when He experienced severe persecution He displayed characteristics of humility and grace beyond our capabilities. Often its when we are under stress and pain that our true nature is displayed. It's certainly more challenging to show feelings of love and grace in these times but we can look to Jesus as an example of how we can respond.

Prayer: Lord, life can get so challenging at times. Help us, when under pressure, to look to You for an example of how to live. Amen.

How do you respond under stress and persecution?

A Friend's Betrayal

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

When those faces turned their backs on me and pretended not to know me, it cut me like a knife.

Luke 22:39-71

Reference: v.65 And they said many other insulting things to him. (NIV Bible)

Explore: Moving schools is often difficult yet when you move with friends it makes things easier. Well, that is what I thought when I had to move schools in Year 11. My previous school had closed down and so the whole student body had to find new places of education. I ended up going to a school with a number of my friends. It was nice to turn up to a new place and recognise some of the faces. However, when those faces turned their backs on me and pretended not to know me, it cut me like a knife. I remember one conversation amongst a whole group of girls - both known and new - that I tried to join. We were all chatting when an old friend of mine positioned herself in such a way that I was no longer a part of the circle and therefore left out of the conversation. This small incident scarred me for life. Not only did I feel rejected but also betrayed by someone who was supposed to be my friend.

Application: When we look at the story of Jesus' crucifixion we often focus on the brutal physical treatment he had to endure during his trial. However, the rejection and betrayal from his disciples and friends would have been just as devastating for Him as the whipping and beating that occurred. Judas, Jesus' disciple, led the arresting party while Peter, one of Jesus' closest friends, openly confessed that he had nothing to do with Jesus - not once but three times. This kind of treatment makes my betrayal seem so trivial. And yet Jesus endured his trial with dignity and integrity and even forgave us all for betraying Him. What love, what grace, what mercy! It may be beyond our understanding but may we be forever grateful.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the price You paid. Forgive me when I betray You and turn my back on You. Amen.

How have you betrayed Jesus or turned your back on Him?

Chocolate and Hot Cross Buns

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Many customers were disgusted that the shops were trying to get us to buy items to remember an event that was still three months away.

Luke 22:1-38

Reference: v.19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Explore: This year Easter eggs seemed to come out onto the supermarket shelves as soon as the Christmas decorations were packed away. Everyone was commenting about how quickly the chocolate companies and bakeries were jumping on the Easter bandwagon to sell their wares. Many customers were disgusted that the shops were trying to get us to buy items to remember an event that was still three months away. And really, the companies were just trying to make more money out of a religious event. However, I didn't really mind. Yes, part of me loves chocolate and hot-cross buns so I'm happy to eat them anytime! But it also made me think that Easter is such an important part of our faith that we should take a couple of months to remember it. At Easter we remembered God's huge sacrifice that He gave for every single person so that we could be made right with Him. And so often we only mention this part of our faith at Easter time - once a year. Yet the Easter story is so central to our faith that we should have Easter eggs and hot-cross buns every single day of the year!

Application: I know that the point of Easter is not just to eat chocolate and buns but its good to have these things as a reminder of what Jesus did for each of us. Now, we don't have the chocolate and bun elements all throughout the year but it is good for us to have something in our lives to remember Jesus' sacrifice and how much He truly loves us. Some people remind themselves by wearing a cross on a chain while others keep a card in their wallet with a special reminder of God's love for them. Whatever it may be, we need to remember every day that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Now that's worth remembering!

Prayer: Lord, You have given us all the love we could ever need. Thank you. May we never forget the sacrifice You gave for us. Amen.

How can you remind yourself of God's love for you?

Hillsong Conference

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Thousands of people from all across Australia, as well as from around the globe, gather together to learn more about God.

Luke 21:5-38

Reference: v.38 ...and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. (NIV Bible)

Explore: This week in Sydney there is a huge Christian conference going on called Hillsong. Thousands of people from all across Australia, as well as from around the globe, gather together to learn more about God. While I'm not there this year I have been to previous conferences and it is a great chance to sit under the teaching of some great people and learn from others in the Christian walk. Each year this conference is booked out so there are always people lining up to get the seats closest to the front. It's like with any live event you always want to position yourself as close to the front as possible so that you are also a part of the action. People are always willing to sacrifice their time to get there early so they get a better seat. When you're on a bus or at the cinema it's cool to be up the back, but when you're at a live gig everyone is pushing to be at the front.

Application: When Jesus was travelling around teaching the people he had large crowds of people sitting under his teaching. I'm guessing that in 30AD they didn't have great PA systems so there would be extra incentive to being closer to Jesus. In the 21st chapter of Luke we read some of his teaching and we hear that people were arriving early in the morning so that they could hear what Jesus had to say. When it comes to a conference or a live performance people are often eager to be where the action is. They'll put off their normal routine to get there early. But in actual fact, we have the opportunity to learn about Jesus every single day. It may not be a live performance but we have the Bible to give us insights on God, and we have access to it every single day. Do we wake up early to get to the best spot? Are we willing to sacrifice our time to learn from the best? It's always good to go to conferences and concerts however we need to remember that we can have the best seat every single day. If the Word of God is open in our hands then we are behind the greatest teacher that's ever lived.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we put your Word aside and focus on our own lives. May we strive for the best seat in the house every single day. Amen.

Is reading God's Word a priority in your life?

Generous Donors

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

There were so many generous donors who sacrificed salary, savings and even pocket money...

Luke 21:1-4

Reference: 3. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others." (NIV Bible)

Explore: I was recently involved in LightFM 's 'Greater Things' appeal. Being a Community Christian radio, LightFM relies on donations to assist with their production costs. In the lead up to the end of financial year, LightFM's appeal aimed to raise $500,000. This figure seems so huge however they worked out that if every single listener was willing to pay just over $1 each, they would easily reach this figure. There were so many generous donors who sacrificed salary, savings and even pocket money to assist LightFM get to their target. At the end of the appeal they finished up just short, however the generosity of hundreds of people was outstanding.

Application: Clearly not every listener of LightFM donated money otherwise they would have cleared their target in half the time. However many people dug deep and pitched in a considerable amount to make up for those who listen but did not contribute. The on-air personalities made a concerted effort to thank everyone. You never know the full picture of someone's financial status and so whatever sacrifice they made was appreciated.
Money is a fairly private matter. Often close friends don't even know about each other's finances. We hold our money very close to our chest and often close to our hearts as well. And yet it's great when you meet a generous giver. Their selfless attitude is a blessing to the people around them and while they are sharing their money they are also sharing their positive spirit.

Prayer: Lord, You have given us all things. Forgive us when we are selfish with what we have. May we become more like you and share what we have with others. Amen.

Would you consider yourself as a generous person?

Name-Droppers

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The expert name-droppers are those who can veer any topic of conversation towards a theme that allows them to drop a well-known name in.

Luke 20:41-47

Reference: v.46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets." (NIV Bible)

Explore: Do you know someone who is a name-dropper? You know the type: You're having a conversation with someone and they constantly drop names of well-known people that they have met into the dialogue. The expert name-droppers are those who can veer any topic of conversation towards a theme that allows them to drop a well-known name in. You may be enjoying a conversation about politics when suddenly, within a couple of sentences, you find yourself talking about sport and, ahhh, there it is, the latest sport star the name-dropper has met is dropped into conversation. They usually try to make it subtle like, 'Well, the other day when I was talking to Michael Jordan, he said that..." and yet if you don't pick up on the name they have dropped it will be repeated over and over until someone makes a comment! It's funny because usually the most avid name-droppers have the least amount to do with the well-known person, however they drop their name to make themselves look more important.

Application: There are lots of ways we can make ourselves look more important. Some people are name-droppers, others wear labelled clothes and others splash their money around. But God sees through all of this showy behaviour and looks to the heart of people. When Jesus walked on the earth there were some people high up in religious positions that wanted to make themselves look more important. But Jesus saw through their facade and saw who they really were. When we look at impressing others, we should not focus on the people around. We should only aim to impress our Lord. As we strive to live each day, may our efforts go into living for Jesus rather than receiving glory from the people around us.

Prayer: Lord, we love to impress others. May our focus be solely on You. Amen.

What do you do to impress others? How can you live to impress God today?