Pleasant Hill Baptist Church

by Lysa TerKeurst

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20 (NIV)

I had the most interesting conversation with a friend who lives in Hollywood. Although her family lives in the midst of glitz, glamour and extreme excess, she said they are determined to teach their kids something rare… the courageous choice. You see, there are two kinds of courage. There’s the courageous act that makes our heart beat fast when the knight fights the dragon or the firefighter rushes into the burning building.

These are extreme events most of us won’t ever face. And because most of us aren’t put in positions to participate in a courageous act, we don’t necessarily think of ourselves as courageous. But there’s a second kind of courage that, dare I might say, is widely available but not widely embraced. It’s the courageous choice. This is the decision to do the right thing even when it’s unpopular, uncelebrated and probably even unnoticed. Have you been faced with one of these kinds lately?

Probably one of my toughest courageous choices has been in the area of my food choices. It was my hidden struggle. The one I didn’t want to deal with or talk about. Not with my friends and certainly not with God. But then I started coming across verse after verse in the Bible that spoke directly to my issue. Though I didn’t want to talk to God about it, God certainly seemed to want to speak to me. Verses like Philippians 1:20 as well as many more:

Deuteronomy 2:3, “You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north…” (NASB)

Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (NIV)

2 Corinthians 7:1, “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (NIV 1984)

God assured me He loved me exactly how I was, but He loved me too much to leave me in a state of defeat.
I made a courageous choice to read the Bible looking for God to speak to me about my struggle. I made the courageous choice to walk willingly on the path of discipline. I made the courageous choice to pick something healthy even in the quietness of my pantry when no one else was looking.

I made the courageous choice to put a stake in the ground and say, I’m more than the sum total of my screaming taste buds. My heart doesn’t want that junk food. My arms don’t want that junk food. My legs don’t want that junk food. And my soul certainly doesn’t want that junk food. It is possible to layer one courageous choice upon another and find victory in your area of struggle. No matter what your struggle is, are you willing to make one courageous choice today? Make that choice. And then make it again. And then make it again. You are a courageous woman. Now, go out and prove it to yourself.

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I need Your divine help with each choice I make every day. I don’t ever want to step outside Your will and direction for my life. I am courageous only with You, in You and through You. Please help me embrace Your courageous choices for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Devotion By Lori Hatcher

The only time I saw the painting was when I was lying in bed. Not a fan of abstract art, I remember glancing at it one night and wondering why so many interior decorators favor the style. It was colorful enough, I conceded, and it definitely complimented the tropical theme of the cruise ship, but as apragmatist, I prefer knowing what I am looking at without having to guess.

Today I saw the painting in a whole new light. Propped up on the side of the bed reading my Bible, I waited for my husband to finish showering. As I glanced at the painting, I noticed with surprise that there were three figures in the lower corner. There were also bright green palm trees, pink hibiscus flowers,and a canopy of foliage forming a frame for the tropical scene. The artwork I had dismissed as abstract was suddenly full of recognizable details. Puzzled, I wondered how I had missed the beauty of the painting. Then it hit me. Up until that morning, because of the layout of the stateroom, I had only been able to see the painting after I had climbed into bed. I wear contact lenses, so by bedtime each night, I had already removed them. Without my contacts, I can only see details if they are within 18 inches of my face.

Today I sat on the bed for the first time with my corrective lenses on. What had been a blurry and totally abstract painting suddenly became crystal clear. I could see the details I had missed before withmy compromised vision. Sometimes I see our world the same way. Last week I heard of a friend’s son and daughter-in-law who lost a baby shortly after birth because of a terrible congenital disorder. I heard news of an estranged father who killed himself and his two young sons in an explosive house fire. I heard a patient of mine had dropped dead of a heart attack while eating breakfast at Hardees.

From my near-sighted perspective, sometimes our world seems hopeless. Until I realize that I have a flawed perspective. I am only looking, as the King James version says, “through a glass darkly” (1 Cor. 12:13). The New International Version puts it this way, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror.” Like my view of the painting in my stateroom, my perspective on life is often short-sighted and limited; all I see is what is immediately in front of me. This, however, is not an accurate perception.

When I gaze at the world through the corrective lense of the word of God, I realize that God’s plan for mankind is not limited to today or tomorrow, to my lifetime or yours. He has all of eternity at his disposal. He steadfastly moves, sometimes silently, sometimes loudly, through the calendar of history to work out his plan for humanity. Although my life time seems like the only time period that matters, God’s word reminds me that my time on earth is just a few pages in the grand adventure of forever.

Isaiah 65:17-20 gives me God’s vision. His perspective gives me hope when sadness and sorrow threaten to distort my view of the world.

“Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind . . . the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does notlive out his years. . . They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.” If you are struggling with disappointment and discouragement, I challenge you to put on the corrective lenses of God’s word. Learn to take the long view of eternity. You’ll be amazed at what you see.

I thought this was a great devotion by Lori I hope you enjoyed it.

Blessings to all of you today,
Chris

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Lately I’ve noticed that when I ask people how they are I hear a common response. Not only am I hearing this response from other people but I also hear this response from my lips as well. Have you guessed what it might be? The response I hear is, “I’ve been busy” or “I am so busy!” Life is busy. We have many responsibilities, jobs, family, church, friends, home chores, etc.

Jesus knew that we would become weary from all that would consume our time and the busyness that would wear us out. He instructs and comforts with the above words, “Come to me…………I will give you rest.”

What do you do when you need to rest from life’s burdens and responsibilities? There are many things that we can do to escape and try to rest from the weariness. Jesus told us to go to Him for rest. What does that look like in your mind? For me, it’s sitting in a quiet room and being still. It sure helps me to relax when I’m focused on Jesus and not on my, “to do” list or on the cares of this life. Jesus told us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I don’t know about you but I’m trading my burdens in for His. It’s a daily struggle to take the time to rest but our body, soul and spirit will thank us when we do! Maybe the next time I’m asked how I’m doing my response will be, “I’m resting in the Lord.”

Prayer for today: Dear Lord, thank you for your comfort and for taking our burdens on yourself. Please help us to be still and lay our burdens down. Your word says in, 1Pe 5:7 “..casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Please help us to remember to rest in You and receive your rest into our souls.” Thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless you all with a great day!
Chris

“This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” Acts 23:1

Offense is a very powerful tool that the enemy uses to cause strife in the Body of Christ. Someone may say something that offends us, or we see a look that offends us, or we don’t particularly like the way something is done, etc. These are all offenses that are designed to cause us harm by starting a root of bitterness and also can cause division among us. Some of us are more susceptible than others.

For instance, those of us who are naturally more sensitive can easily take things personally that are not meant to offend us. I will never forget an instance that the Lord taught me a very big lesson. I was in a grocery store (back in the 80s). I ran into a friend who I said hello to. This friend was in a very poor mood and hardly acknowledged my presence. When I left the store I started to dwell on the hurt and rejection I felt was starting to get down over it. Then the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, He said, “Satan is using your sensitivity to bring you down, I have given you a sensitive spirit so that you would pray for others.”

I felt ashamed that I made her bad mood about me. John Bevere wrote a book entitled, “The Bait of Satan” and it’s about taking offense. We have a choice of whether or not we take offense at what others do or don’t do. Joyce Meyer said recently that when we are offended to immediately pray for the one whom we felt offended by. The offense doesn’t have a chance to fester when we do so. The offender may be having a bad day like I found out my friend was having when I ran into her that day at the grocery store. Let us strive, as the apostle Paul did, to have a conscience free of offense toward God and men.

Prayer for today: Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to recognize when the spirit of offense is present and help us to pray instead of becoming offended. May we be led by your Holy Spirit and not our flesh so that we can live in harmony and peace with others. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Blessings to all of you today,
Chris

Devotional by Amy Carroll

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9

When a new neighbor moved in next door, Caroline rallied the troops in her neighborhood to prepare a warm greeting. She and her friend planned a feast to take over to welcome the newcomer to their community. Caroline called her neighbor and was surprised when her hospitality was met with suspicion. “Why did you say you wanted to bring me dinner?” she questioned. Caroline explained that it was a tradition in their area and that they’d like to deliver dinner to welcome her personally. The neighbor responded, “I tell you what. I’ll give you a call when I’m hungry.” Click.

Caroline reflected on how many times we treat God the same way that her new neighbor treated her. Each day God lays out a feast and invites every believer to come eat our fill. I had to ask myself an important question: How many days do I rush by God’s table and throw an “I’ll come when I’m hungry!” back over my shoulder? I think I’m full, but God knows that I’m simply ignoring my hunger. I need to sit down daily to eat and be filled from God’s table.

Luke 1:53 says, “He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty” (NIV 1984). I long to have a heart to approach Him daily just as I am—poor and hungry. He invites me to come to Him so that I can leave rich and full. What a glorious exchange! What a divine pleasure! Daily time enjoying God is essential, but sometimes God gives us an invitation to a private, extended feast.

I am envious of one of my pastors. He takes a week each year for a spiritual retreat to a monastery. He goes where it’s quiet and simple and spends a week with Jesus. Maybe someday when my children are older and I’m caught up on laundry I’ll be able to do that, but recently God led me to do something equally wonderful on a smaller scale. I took a spiritual retreat during the school day in a room at my church. As I walked up the stairs to the empty room, I felt nervous. I had spent hours in prayer with others, but I had never spent this long alone with God. Would I have enough to say to Him? Would the minutes drag by? Would I walk out unchanged or disappointed? At the end of the day, my questions were answered. God met me there. We filled our time together with prayer, Bible reading and worship. God spoke words of direction to me in the silence.

I came in knowing that I was hungry, and He was faithful to fill me. Having mini-retreats with Jesus is something that I plan to do now at least twice a year. In the midst of a full life, it’s necessary to intentionally set extended time aside to seek His face and worship Him. I’ll still look forward to a week in an abbey, but in the meantime I’ll bask in a school day retreat as I renew my relationship with God and feast on His goodness!

Dear Lord, help me know You are good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! God is LOVE!

Blessings,
Chris

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: My friend Marcia experienced a lot of hurt growing up with an alcoholic father. When God changed her life, she realized she had sinned in response to her father’s bad choices. “I at that point wrote a letter to my father and sent it to him asking his forgiveness for all that I had done against him. So when I finally got a hold of him, I said, ‘Dad, I need to know if you got that letter I sent you.’

“And he said, ‘Yes, Marcia. I got the letter, and I need to ask your forgiveness. You’re not the one that needs to be asking me for forgiveness.’ “But I said, ‘Dad, I need to know that you forgive me for what I’ve done against you.’ “He said, ‘Yes, I’ve forgiven you.’ And I said, ‘Daddy, I’ve already forgiven you. And God will forgive you to if you allow Him.’” Nancy: In a short time Marcia saw the fruit of her forgiveness. “He told me that he had decided to make a change in his life and turn his life over to Christ.”

Nancy: Do you need to ask for someone’s forgiveness? God may do amazing things through the process.

With Seeking Him,
I’m Nancy Leigh DeMoss.