Coffee Shop Chapel

DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY JULY 31, 2003
(2 Corinthians 5:20)

Ambassadors of Christ.

One of the things that happens to us at the moment
of salvation, is that we immediately become Ambassadors of Jesus Christ. This is NOT a voluntary job, but is mandatory. More important, this is not a normal type of job where you work so many hours, and then are off. Being an ambassador of Christ is a 24/7/365 job!!!!

You NEVER stop being His representative. That
means you represent Christ at school, at work, where you play, where you shop, when you are with your friends, everywhere, every minute of the day. That also means you represent Christ AT HOME with your parents, children, spouse,
roommate, or whoever else you may live with.

Just in case you might have missed that last sentence, let me repeat it for you! That also means you represent Christ AT HOME with your parents, children, spouse, roommate, or whoever else you may live with!!!

The sole purpose of today's Devotional is to drive home the point that as a Christian, we are responsible for being Christ's representative every second of every day. I want you to sit down and think about that today. THAT is why we talk about not drinking, not living together, not engaging in unGodly behavior, because of the fact we are CHRIST'S REPRESENTATIVES! You see others are watching you whether you realize it or not. THE LOUDEST WITNESS YOU WILL EVER HAVE TO THOSE AROUND YOU IS NOT THE WORDS THAT YOU SPEAK, BUT HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE!!!

I get so many emails each day from people with unsaved family members, co-workers, and friends, and are not sure what they should say. First of
all, the Lord will give you opportunities to share how wonderful Christ has been in your life.

But on a day to day basis, it is not what you say, but how you live that has the greatest impact on those unsaved people in your life. Live a Godly life before them and pray for them, those are your most effective weapons in
helping open their heart to the truth of God's love for them.

This is actually a VERY heavy word I have given you today. TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THIS SEVERAL TIMES! As you read these words, it becomes very clear now that you have no excuse for
behaving as the world behaves. You have no excuse for allowing yourself to be drawn into activities God is not pleased with. Why? Because you are HIS ambassador! We are to help people live UP to God's standards, not down to the world's standards.

As I mentioned, that responsibility does not stop once you get home either. As His ambassador, you represent Him to your family. Mom and dad, you represent Christ to your children.

Young adults, I realize many of you have unsaved
parents. You represent Christ to your mom and dad. Think about this as you deal with your
loved ones on a daily basis. I will pray for you today as you seek the Lord, that you never forget you are His representative, HIS AMBASSADOR! Serve Him in that capacity each and every day!!!

In His love and service,
Bill Keller

 

Life Inside the Womb

Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived in the womb. Seconds, minutes, hours passed as the two embryonic lives developed. The spark of life grew and each tiny brain began to take shape and form. With the development of their brain came feeling, and with feeling, perception--a perception of surroundings, of each other, and their own lives. They discovered that life was good and they laughed and rejoiced in their hearts.

One said to the other, "We are sure lucky to have been conceived and to have this wonderful world."

The other chimed in, "Yes, blessed be our mother who gave us life and each other."

Each of the twins continued to grow and soon their arms and fingers, legs and toes began to take shape. They stretched their bodies and churned and turned in their little world. They explored it and found the life cord which gave them life from their mother's blood. They were grateful for this new discovery and sang, "How great is the love of our mother--that she shares all she has with us!"

Weeks passed into months and with the advent of each new month, they noticed a change in each other and in themselves.

"We are changing," one said. "What can it mean?"

"It means," said the other, "that we are drawing near to birth."

An unsettling chill crept over the two. They were afraid of birth, for they knew that it meant leaving their wonderful world behind.

Said the one, "Were it up to me, I would live here forever."

"But we must be born," said the other. "It has happened to all the others." Indeed, there was evidence inside the womb that the mother had carried life before theirs. "And I believe that there is life after birth, don't you?"

"How can there be life after birth?" cried the one. "Do we not shed our life cord and also the blood tissue when we are born? And have you ever talked to anyone that has been born? Has anyone ever re-entered the womb after birth to describe what birth is like? NO!" As he spoke, he fell into despair, and in his despair he moaned, "If the purpose of conception and our growth inside the womb is to end in birth, then truly our life is senseless." He clutched his precious life cord to his breast and said, "And if this is so, and life is absurd, then there really can be no mothers!"

"But there is a mother," protested the other. "Who else gave us nourishment? Who else created this world for us?"

"We get our nourishment from this cord--and our world has always been here?" said the one. "And if there is a mother--where is she? Have you ever seen her? Does she ever talk to you? No! We invented the mother when we were young because it satisfied a need in us. It made us feel secure and happy."

Thus, while the one raved and despaired, the other resign himself to birth and placed his trust in the hands of his mother. Hours turned into days, and days into weeks. And soon it was time. They both knew their birth was at hand, and they both feared what they did not know. As the one was first to be conceived, so he was the first to be born, the other following.

They cried as they were born into the light. The coughed out fluid and gasped the dry air. And when they were sure they had been born, they opened their eyes--seeing life after birth for the very first time. What they saw was the beautiful eyes of their mother, as they were cradled lovingly in her arms. They were home.

"No eye has seen, no ear had heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Written by Wayne Rice

 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY AUGUST 2, 2003
( Isaiah 29:13, James 3:9,10 )

Do you honor God with your lips, or your life?

Several weeks ago, I did a Devotional on how God calls what those who try to speak to the dead, those who are involved in fortune-telling and other psychic activities do, an ABOMINATION. I gave a mountain of scripture to support that God clearly says this is activity we are NOT to be involved in.

I used John Edward, this fraud who claims to speak to the dead as an example in that Devotional. At best, Edward and those like him are highly polished carnival acts, at worst, they are operating with demonic powers. Every
time I deal with this issue, the demons of hell come flying out of the woodwork. Those who defend Edward, Sylvia Brown, and the rest of these deceivers all say the same thing, "They have to be of God. They pray, and they always
talk about God."

The prophet Isaiah said it so well in the anchor verse for today. "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but
their hearts are far from me." It is not what you say that makes you Godly, it is what you do! These psychics honor God with their words, then proceed to engage in activity that is 100% in opposition to God.

I read recently that a woman won an award for appearing in a pornographic movie and said that she wanted to thank Jesus for the award. I cringe as I watch an athlete give glory to God for what he accomplished on the field, then
moments later proceed to take God's name in vain. Saying the word "God" does not make you "of God." It is your actions that make you "of God!"

Please don't get me wrong. I am not saying that we should not give God all of the glory, honor, and praise that He deserves. WE MUST! But God is more interested in how we honor Him with our lives. My mother used to tell me that actions speak louder than words. She was 100% correct as mothers always are.

The greatest impact that we can have on someone we are close to is not by what we say, but how we live our life. Our most powerful testimony is
not our words, but our actions. The greatest impact that you can have on unsaved family members, friends, those that you may see at school or work, is not what you will say to them about Jesus, but how you show them Jesus in
YOUR day to day life.

I pray today that just because someone uses the name "God", or "Jesus" , or "Christian", that you just don't automatically accept all that they say and do. You can't be "of God" and then blatantly live in 100% opposition to God!

The Bible, our final authority in all matters, the ABSOLUTE TRUTH that we base our very lives on, says that those who do what Edward does, what Brown and the other psychics do, is a SIN. So they can invoke the name of God, pray all they want, that does NOT make what they are doing "of God" any more than what the porno actress does, even though she also gives glory to God. God
is not impressed with our words, but our actions. My question to you today is this:
do you honor God with your lips, or with your life?

In his love and service,
Bill Keller

 

Thank you Sue,

I will miss these devotionals while we are away. Will be nowhere near a computer

Blessings

Sheila

 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY AUGUST 3, 2003
( Matthew 5:28 )

Are pornographic movies OK for a husband and wife? This is a question I get hundreds of times every week. The answer is NO. The reason is because pornography involves sexual fantasies with someone OTHER than your spouse. THAT is why it is a sin. This Devotional will spark the natural question, "what is acceptable between a husband and wife?" God created sex. It is
beautiful and perfect when enjoyed in the CONTEXT GOD CREATED IT. That context is a man and women, who are married!

I have always held that whatever a husband and wife enjoy sexually is fine as long as it is done in private and they BOTH are open to it. No spouse should be forced to engage in sexual acts that they are not comfortable with. Also, the
line is drawn when it gets into fantasies involving other people. THAT is why
pornography is not acceptable for a husband and wife since by its VERY nature, pornography is fantasizing about other people. FIND YOUR FULFILLMENT IN EACH OTHER!

Pornography is a problem many men, AND women have battled for a long time. With the advent of the Internet, it has made accessibility to pornography
incredibly easy, and has now become a very real societal problem. As with all problems in society, many Christians also end up caught in the traps the enemy has laid to destroy people's lives. Let me say up front, DO NOT
underestimate the destructive power of pornography.

Like all sin, it starts almost innocently, but always escalates. One day you are browsing through X-rated pictures, and the next you are actually involved in a real physical relationship. One day you are chatting with someone, the next day your chat becomes more graphic, and then you are actually sitting next
to them. Like all sin, there is a seductiveness that eases you into it, and one day you wake up and in total bondage to that sin.

The reason pornography is a sin is because God's plan for sexuality is for one man, with one woman, for one lifetime. Our sexual thoughts are to be only about that person God gives us to share our life with. ALL other thoughts are impure. Fantasies take our mind to places we shouldn't be going. Even if we never act on them. The reason is Jesus said if you lust
in your heart, you have already committed the act. Is it a high standard? Yes! But God has called us to live at a high level in our life. We are to live above the low standards of this world.

We are to find our sexual satisfaction in the mate God gives us to share our life with as our husband or wife. That means very simply this. First of all, if you are NOT married, you need to keep your thoughts pure and save not only your body, but your mind for the one God has for your life. If you are married, your sexual thoughts and activities are to be ONLY with your
husband or wife. Anything else is not God's plan and is sin!!!

Now that we know what God expects, let's talk about real life. Read, and re-read the second paragraph. There is to be NO compromise. This is what God expects from us. Now, how do we get to that point. The best case is you are still young, have not been exposed to pornography, you have the warning of this message to guard yourself against it. For those who have been exposed in the past to pornography, the key is to "renew your mind" and flush it out. We do that each day using the spiritual detergent of God's Word. Stay away from it, and guard your thought life.

There are those who are currently involved in pornography at some level. It is bondage. Before you can get victory over it, you have to want to quit. Once you get to that point, then realize it is a battle. Like any battle, to see
victory you need a battleplan. You need one or several people in your life to be accountable to. You need the strength each day only the Lord can give you. There is victory over pornography just like any other sin.

I realize this is hitting home with many of you. Let it be a special tap on the shoulder from God that now is the time to deal with this issue in your life. It isn't going to change until YOU decide to change. As you know, any time we pervert the original plan of God, things never really work. We always get cheated out of the
best God has for us when we settle for what the world offers. You can only know the true blessings of God, the fullness of what life can give, when we are in His will, living life His way.

God is in the deliverance business, and I know that He can deliver you from the bondage of pornography. I will be praying for those people fighting this sin in their life and believing God to touch their heart, bring them under
conviction, and help them to have the courage to take the steps necessary to walk away from this sin and live a victorious life. He is able, and can set you free. God is STILL in the deliverance business!!! God gave a man and woman who are married the gift of sex. God is the giver of all good and perfect gifts. Don't pervert it, or abuse it, but enjoy this wonderful gift by polluting it with pornography.

In His love and service,
Bill Keller

 

You're very welcome Dan...but I'd much rather read yours.

 

Thank You Dan.

Getting a jump on things for tomorrow huh? Well done though good and faithful servant. Really appreciate your efforts.

 

August 7

Romans 9:22-24, "What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"

God has demonstrated His awesome patience down through history, time and time again. Today, we want to look, in more detail, at the patience of God.

1. God is patient for a reason. We are not in hell today, even though we deserve to be, because God is patient with us. The purpose of God's patience is to lead us to repentance. But I must warn all who read this, do not abuse God's patience. Remember, His patience is meant to do us good.

Think about how patient God has been with us: We have sinned against knowledge, and He has been exceedingly patient. As I write and you read this devotional on the Baptist Board, know that we are not like the heathen who know nothing of God or His salvation. We live in a countries where the Scriptures are known, where the doctrines of the Bible are taught, where the way of salvation is proclaimed. Do not continue to mock God and His patience, flee to Him today and accept His offer of salvation.

2. God will not be patient forever. Although God's patience is long-suffering, it is not eternal. God's wrath has been withheld by His patience, but that wrath is building up, like waters behind a great dam, and one day it will pour forth, as it did with Pharaoh. God was patient with Pharaoh, but God judged him in the end. God was patient with Israel in the wilderness, yet many perished in that same wilderness, because they tested God's patience.

Boice writes, "God's patience leads to repentance, but you must still repent. You must believe on Jesus. If you do not, you will face God's judgment in the end, however much you may scoff at it now."

The story is told of an unbelieving farmer whose farm was directly across the road from a church. Each Sunday, as the Christians would worship in the church, the farmer would display his scorn for them by plowing his fields, and doing other noisy chores during the worship service. The worshipers were aware of what the farmer was doing, and he continued to do it all summer. In October, when the crops were harvested, the farmer wrote a letter to the town's newspaper, pointing out that he had worked every Sunday all summer, and that God had not struck him down for it. His crops were in, and he had prospered as well as, if not better than the Christian farmers. The letter was printed, but underneath it the editor added: "The Lord does not settle His accounts in October."

"God is patient. His patience means salvation. But God's patience is not unending. One day the accounts will be settled and judgment will come." (Boice)

3. Because God is patient, we should be patient. Patience is found in Paul's writings three times in reference to God. But it is found as a virtue to be cultivated by Christians six times, twice as often as in reference to God. It is a fruit of the Spirit, and it is commended as a virtue in the Christian ministry.

We Christians tend to be impatient with other people, especially those we are trying to win to Christ. We forget how hard-headed we were before we came to Christ. God is patient, and we should be also.

There are five attributes of God found in Romans 9:22-24. Wrath is one, but we are not called upon to show wrath, God is the avenger, Romans 12:19. Power is another, but it is God Who shows power, not us. Even glory is not for us to demonstrate. But we are to be a merciful people, because God has been merciful to us. And we are to be patient, because God has been patient with us. I realize that being patient is not easy, but remember that our God, Who is Himself patient, may use our patience to draw many hurting people to the Savior.

Adapted from "Romans" by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY AUGUST 8, 2003
(Ephesians 4:32)

Being kind. How many times in a day do we lose our temper, snap at those we love, ignore those we work with, go to school with, interact with each day? Sometimes, we are so wrapped up in our life, our problems, what we are trying to get done, we simply tune out others. You see, being kind requires us to care for others. It requires us to concentrate on their needs. It forces us to look away from ourselves and look at others.

Like many of the things I write about each day, this is something we usually overlook, often take for granted, and seldom think about. If you asked most people, they would tell you that they are "kind" to others. Most of the time they are probably right. But God has told us to be kind to others, and again, in our attempt to be living within His will, this is another facet of our life we must be aware of. Being kind in a Biblical sense, means that we need to put others before ourselves. Look at serving others instead of serving ourselves. Kindness requires our focus be on someone else.

One thing I learned early in my ministry, was that only God can change a human heart. He uses us as instruments to touch peoples' lives and soften their hearts so He can speak to them. Our acts of kindness to others is a way for God to speak to someone who needs Him. You never know where a person really is in terms of their life, but God does. Our kindness to someone at a critical point can be the act that opens them to hear God's voice speaking to them.

I will be praying today for you to focus this day on being kind to others. Never underestimate how God is using you in the lives of others. It is usually in those simple acts that God uses us the most. Practice being kind to others each day so that it becomes natural.

Our nature is to focus on ourselves first and others second. God wants us to change that nature to focus on others first and ourselves second. That means we must trust God to look out after our needs. I am praying that your faith be increased to trust Him to care for you, while you care for others.

This is a great day today. It is unique because it is like no other day, and when it is gone, will never be back. Make the most of it and to
everyone you meet today, BE KIND!

In His love and service,
Bill Keller

 

That was a nice devotional Sue. Thank you for posting it.

I don't have trouble being kind to my family and people I meet during the day. I'm very quiet. friendly and polite, I never even speak up for myself let alone say an unkind word to anyone else. You may wonder given how outspoken I can be on this site if I'm being honest. Believe it or not, I am speaking the truth.

My advise is be honest, be polite and try to give everyone the benifit of the doubt. Don't be quick to take offense. Don't intentionally offend. And don't think that because someone else can dish it out that they can necessarily take it.

What it really comes down to is when you're walk with God is strong, there isn't really anything that anyone can say or do to you that will offend you or hurt you. If you find that you are offending or being offended, pray.

Psalm 119:165

 

Thank you WS. I post for Dan on the week-ends and any other time he is going to be away from home.

We are both encouraged to know that someone is reading these devotionals.

Blessings,
§ue

 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY AUGUST 9, 2003
(Luke 9:23)

Pick up your cross today. Jesus said to pick up the cross and follow me. For Jesus, the cross He bore was the sins of mankind. God has not asked any of us to bear such a burden, but we each do have a cross that we are asked to bear. For some of you it may be a marriage that is in trouble. Many are bearing a cross of physical affliction. Some are bearing a cross of financial difficulties. We each have a cross that God has asked us to bear.

How we bear that cross each day becomes the challenge we face. Let me give you some insight I have gleaned from the Word of God in regard to this.

First is having a right attitude. God promised not to put on you more than you can handle. Trust Him. He loves you and knows you better than you know yourself.

Second, realize that you can't do anything in your own strength. Often times the cross we bear keeps us humble and constantly reminded that
it is not in our strength that we live, but in His!

Lastly, give thanks for the cross God has given you.

Give thanks? The Bible tells us to give thanks in ALL things. That includes those things
that we may not be very thankful for. Don't forget my friend, nothing happens in your life that God doesn't know about or allow to happen. So yes, give thanks even for the cross you bear because God has a master plan and is doing things you cannot even see or understand.

The best advice I can give you today to help you carry that cross God has given you, is to stay close to Him each day by being in prayer and the Word each day. Be in church, fellowship with other Christians, and find ways to serve God. All of these things working together keep you focused on Him. The farther you get away from God, the heavier that cross will become. It
is through carrying the cross each day that we become perfected and more like Him. Rejoice today, carry your cross with thanksgiving, and know that God is walking with you every step of the way!

In His love and service,
Bill Keller

 

I love that one. That is so true. I can't tell you how amazed I was when I first realized that I was thankful for the trials that came into my life. Now I don't have any trouble seeing a silver lining in every lesson I am priviledged to be entrusted with learning.

Hey, attitude always determines the outcome. And keeping close to the Lord is the only way to withstand the occasional storm and come out smiling and better for it to boot.

Thank you Sue so much. Well done.

 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY AUGUST 10, 2003
( Hebrews 11:13 )

The daily journey. For the great majority who will read these words today, this is simply another day in your life. The simple fact is, it is a day that will come and go like most days in our life do. Some will celebrate this day because it is your birthday. For others it will be special because it marks an anniversary of some sort. However for most, it will simply be
another day in this journey we are on called life.

If there is one thing that God has called me to do each day, is to use this Devotional to share the very real day to day life experiences that we all face on our journey, put it in the context of our faith in Christ, and share the love and hope that we have in the Lord. Most days will be like today. Nothing special. Nothing of any great significance. Just another day. My desire today is two-fold. First, to help you realize that NO DAY is "just another day." Second, to help you get through days like today despite the trials and tribulations you may be facing in your life.

It is important to realize that NO DAY is "just another day." IT IS SPECIAL! It is a day like never before, and never again. Let me break it
down this way. IF you live to be 100, you will have 36,500 days to live. If you are 16, you have already lived 5,840 days, and have 30,660 left. If you are 25, you have lived 9,125 days, and have 27,375 days left. If you are 40, you have lived 14,600 days, and have 21,900 days left. The point is, our life is over MUCH faster than we ever expect it to be. When we are 40,
we look back and "wish" that we had made different decisions. When we are 60, we look back and wonder where all of the years went. The point is, LIFE IS SHORT! DON'T TAKE EVEN ONE DAY FOR GRANTED!

More on point, the Bible tells us that tomorrow is promised to NOBODY! We take most days for granted because we have "tomorrow," "next week," "next month," "next year." The fact is, only God knows that for sure, and HE SAID, tomorrow is not promised to anyone! So don't let this day pass, don't let this day just be "another day". MAKE IT SPECIAL IN SOME WAY. MAKE IT COUNT!

The second point is that while it is just "one more day," many of you are facing huge issues in your life. You are dealing with the trials and
tribulations of day to day life, and facing incredible challenges. How are you supposed to handles the challenges of life each day? Most find avenues of escape.

Tobacco, alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, TV, food, shopping, and a myriad of other things to help you "cope" with life's problems. Let me tell you today. There is only ONE WAY to "cope." That is through the strength and direction that you can only get from God Himself! Everything else are just temporary diversions and not answers to the problems that you have. In fact, these diversions ultimately become entire new problems.
ONLY God can help you deal with the day to day issues that we all face along this journey called life.

The key point today boils down to what I share with you so often. Your day to day walk with Jesus is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING that you will do today. Your time with Him in prayer, your
time with Him reading the Word, is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING that you will do today. Why? It is your time to connect with the one who loved you so much that HE died for you. It is your time to "hear" from Him on things that He is asking you to do. It is your time to share with Him your problems. It is your time for Him to give you wisdom and guidance to handle those
problems.

THERE IS NOTHING MORE SPECIAL, NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAT YOU WILL DO EACH DAY THAN THE TIME YOU SPEND WITH JESUS!!!

It is no accident that God woke you up this morning. It is no accident that you are alive today. HE has a specific plan and purpose for
your life today. Take the time to have a chat with the Lord, and ENJOY this wonderful day. It is NOT just "another day," but it is the day that the Lord made, let us rejoice, and be glad in it! When it is over, it is never coming back, you will never be able to live it again, so enjoy it for what it is..a gift from God!!!

In His love and service,
Bill Keller

 

Keep the Boise material coming Brother Dan! Enjoy reading it.