[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Be creative

‘They made an opening in the roof.’
Mark 2:4 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 03 June 2018

Mary Engelbreit always wanted to illustrate children’s books, but a school guidance counsellor told her, ‘You can’t do that. Be practical.

Get a degree and teach.’ Mary started working at an art shop, learned all about the business, and got to know artists who made a living doing what they loved.

Bolstered by the support of her parents, she told herself, ‘You can become an artist. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.’ By refusing to let obstacles on the conventional path to success hold her back, Engelbreit became a nationally recognised artist and launched her own magazine.

Proust said, ‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.’ Learn to think outside the box, and remember, inspiration comes with perspiration!

Expect problems, and don’t let them weaken your resolve. Four men who couldn’t get their paralysed friend to Jesus because of the crowd ‘made an opening in the roof…lowered the mat the man was lying on’.

Jesus saw faith in action, and rewarded it by healing the man. You can find a way around almost anything when you give legs to your prayers and persevere.

Rebecca Barlow Jordan says: ‘True creativity doesn’t stop at the stage of inspiration. Many wannabes have tried and failed, because they failed to overcome the hindrances.

The true artist sees the completed picture by faith. All of us are artists, and God has work for us to do.

[He] encourages us to enjoy the fruits of our labour. But the true blessing comes not just in knowing we’ve overcome…[it’s] when creativity validates its divine origin and brings honour to God.’

Luke 10:1-24, Psalm 57-59

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Why you should read your Bible

‘There’s nothing like the written Word of God.’
2 Timothy 3:16 MSG

The UCB Word for Today - 04 June 2018

Paul wrote to Timothy: ‘Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray.

As long as they are out there, things can only get worse. But don’t let it faze you.

Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers – why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us’ (vv. 13-17 MSG).

Here’s why you should read your Bible:
1) So you won’t be led astray.

God will never say something to you through another person, or your own thoughts, that does not line up with what He’s clearly revealed in His Word. That’s why you need to know the Scriptures.

2) To know you’re truly saved. The apostle John writes: ‘These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know…you have eternal life, and…continue to believe in the name of the Son of God’ (1 John 5:13 NKJV).

3) To identify your calling and equip you. Paul says, ‘Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us’ (2 Timothy 3:17 MSG).

The Bible is your guidebook for living the Christian life, so read it every day!

2 Kings 15-16, Acts 10:24-48

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Four categories of desire (1)

‘A longing fulfilled is a tree of life.’
Proverbs 13:12 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 05 June 2018

For the next few days, let’s look at some of our most common desires. Material desires: Lydia was a businesswoman who dealt in textiles (see Acts 16:14).

She was one of Paul’s first converts to Christianity. Can you imagine what it took for a woman to succeed in business in such a male-dominated society?

She was so successful she owned her own home. And it was large enough to become the meeting place for the first church in the history of Europe.

Of all the religious edifices built over the centuries – Notre Dame, Westminster Abbey, and the Sistine Chapel – the first church was in the home of this businesswoman. Now, if your desire to make money chokes out your generosity, causes you to live in debt, or creates chronic dissatisfaction, it’s time to re-evaluate what you’re doing.

But making money, creating good products, and keeping people employed are God-glorifying things. ‘It is [God] who gives you power to get wealth’ (Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV).

Have you ever wondered why you enjoy tinkering with engines or working with your hands? It’s because you were made in the image of a creative God who engineered this unbelievable cosmic machine with forces and energy so transcendently mind-boggling that people devote brilliant scientific careers to understanding even a tiny bit of it.

Whether you’re mechanically or scientifically oriented, it’s spiritual – and it counts! The Bible says, ‘The LORD…has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant’ (Psalm 35:27 NKJV).

And when your desire for material success is to glorify God and bless others, He will help you to succeed.

2 Kings 17-18, Acts 11

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Four categories of desire (2)

‘He shall give you the desires of your heart.’
Psalm 37:4 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 06 June 2018

The desire to achieve: The first thing God said to Adam was, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and…have dominion’ (Genesis 1:28 NKJV). The reason you have such a strong desire to accomplish something in life is because God created you to ‘do it’.

Few people were more motivated by achievement than Paul: ‘My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus’ (Acts 20:24 NLT). God didn’t take away Paul’s desire to achieve; He harnessed it so Paul could fulfil God’s will.

A strong career drive accompanied by the desire to learn and achieve can be good things, unless they lead to workaholism, worshipping status, neglecting prayer, and manipulating other people. When that happens, you need to re-evaluate your motivation.

But if that’s not the case and you find yourself growing in God with a fire inside you to accomplish something – go forth and achieve. Exercise dominion!

Use your ability to accomplish good things for others. At that point, whether you’re contributing to a meeting, adding value to a team, or formulating ideas, you’ll know it’s more than just you.

When you develop relational skills that enable you to bond with clients and associates, you can simultaneously pray for them and bless them. As you experience joy in your achievements, your life is pleasing to God.

A word of advice: every now and then, remember to stop and thank Him that you get to do something you love!

2 Kings 19-21, Acts 12

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Four categories of desire (3)

‘A man who has friends must himself be friendly.’
Proverbs 18:24 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 07 June 2018

Relational desires: Jonathan was heir to the throne, but he voluntarily gave it up because he knew his friend David was God’s choice to be king. Jonathan desired to be a friend more than he desired to be a king.

How often do you find that? And he didn’t become David’s friend because he was pursuing some ‘discipline of spiritual friendship’.

He simply liked David, and that friendship changed the course of Israel. We all have relational desires we don’t pursue.

Unless a deep, meaningful relationship falls into our lap, we give up. However, friendships like that don’t just happen; Jonathan had to overcome unbelievable barriers to build a friendship with David.

Sometimes you will have to do the same, and God will help you. Author John Ortberg writes: ‘My friend Chuck has the spiritual gift of breakfast.

He meets people in a Southern franchise called the Waffle House. The waitress loves to wait on him because he tips well and makes everybody laugh.

He’s…really funny and utterly unguarded about his own brokenness, which makes people open up to him like tulips in the sun…He feels God’s presence most powerfully when he sits in the Waffle House and is allowed to see someone’s soul. It’s not the coffee that brings people to him; it’s the rivers of living water flowing out of him.’

If you’re naturally shy, here’s a tip: chances are the person you’d like to reach out to is shy as well. Go ahead, make contact and see what happens.

Who knows, you could be the answer to their loneliness and they to yours.

2 Kings 22-23, Acts 13:1-25

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Four categories of desire (4)

‘Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.’
1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 08 June 2018

Physical desires: The Bible tells us to feast, eat, drink, celebrate, sing, dance, shout, and make music – all things we do with our bodies. These appetites, desires, and delights can actually become a way of remembering how good our God is.

The physical is not separate from the spiritual; indeed it is God’s Spirit who makes our bodies come to life. The Bible doesn’t condemn you for wanting to be physically attractive.

Now, this needs to be kept in perspective: ‘Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion’ (Proverbs 11:22 NIV 2011 Edition). The same principle applies to men.

But God did create our bodies. So can we get real?

God made us with a love of beauty. Some stylists started what they called a ‘hairdressers’ ministry’.

Perhaps that sounds strange to you. After all, the only hairstylist mentioned in the Bible was Delilah, and when Samson went to her, things didn’t go too well for him.

But serving people by cutting their hair can be a good thing. People will share problems with their hairstylist that they won’t share with anybody else.

So you can see how that can be a real ministry. This group gave complimentary haircuts to physically and mentally challenged folks.

Then they travelled to Costa Rica to serve young women trying to escape a life of prostitution. They honoured and freely served bodies that had not been freely served for a long time: bodies that had been turned into objects.

What’s the point? You may need to get a new concept, a biblical concept of what is truly ‘spiritual’.

2 Kings 24-25, Acts 13:26-52

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Responding with grace

‘Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.’
2 Peter 3:18 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 09 June 2018

Jesus told His disciples, ‘Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow’ (John 13:14-15 NLT).

Whose feet did He wash? Peter, who denied Him; Thomas, who doubted Him; Judas, who betrayed Him; and all the others, who would desert Him.

In other words, ‘Give the grace you’ve been given.’ You don’t endorse the deeds of your offender when you do.

Jesus didn’t endorse your sins by forgiving you. Grace doesn’t tell the daughter to like the father who molested her.

It doesn’t tell the oppressed to wink at injustice. The grace-defined person still sends thieves to jail and expects an ex-spouse to pay child support.

Grace isn’t blind. It sees the hurt full well.

But grace chooses to see God’s forgiveness even more. It refuses to let hurts poison the heart.

The Bible says, ‘See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many’ (Hebrews 12:15 NIV 2011 Edition). Where grace is lacking, bitterness abounds.

Where grace abounds, forgiveness grows. Peter writes, ‘Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.’

Growing in Bible knowledge is a lot easier than growing in grace towards those who hurt you. The first requires a good memory; the second requires a Christlike character.

So how do you ‘grow’ in grace? By practising it with everybody you meet, in every situation you find yourself.

1 Chronicles 1-3, Acts 14

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Push through to victory

‘Problems…develop endurance…strength…hope.’
Romans 5:3-4 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 10 June 2018

Michael Phelps captured the gold for his country in the Beijing 2008 Olympics and brought home a record eight best-time gold medals. But it won’t just be the number of medals we’ll remember, but his invincible spirit when things turned drastically against him in the 200 metre butterfly.

As he touched the wall, winning the race, nobody knew what he’d undergone to accomplish it. As Michael pulled off his goggles and the world watched, incredulous, water poured out of them.

He’d swum 200 meters almost blind, an experience swimmers dread. Counting strokes, looking desperately for any marks on the pool floor, he finally touched the finish wall, an Olympic conqueror in every sense.

Phelps used his frustration to increase his stamina and determination to win. Paul says: ‘We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know…they help us develop endurance.

And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope…And this hope will not lead to disappointment’ (vv. 3-5 NLT). What a catalogue of amazing benefits God provides us when we face problems!

Endurance: a commitment to draw on His grace and keep moving forward regardless of circumstances. Strength of character: inner fortitude based on personal integrity.

Confident hope: a deep conviction that whatever it takes, ultimately we’ll make it. And to crown it all, we’re guaranteed success in our God-appointed mission because ‘this hope will not lead to disappointment’!

When you can’t see clearly what’s coming, stretch yourself – the finish wall is just ahead!

Luke 10:25-42, Psalm 60-62

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Heartsick (1)

‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick.’
Proverbs 13:12 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 11 June 2018

Depression can cause you to give up on life. When the job got too big for Moses, he told God, ‘Kill me here and now…and do not let me see my wretchedness!’ (Numbers 11:15 NKJV).

Certain that Jezebel would make good on her threats to kill him, Elijah asked God to take his life. It’s said the book of Job covers a span of only nine months, but Job’s losses were so devastating that he said, ‘My soul loathes my life’ (Job 10:1 NKJV).

Solomon said, ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick.’ Instead of arguing over the question, ‘Will a Christian who takes their own life go to heaven?’ we need to ask God for wisdom to know when a loved one has become so hopeless or emotionally ill that they can’t take another day of it.

Who are these people? Young people who cut themselves as a cry for help. War veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who can’t escape the demons of war, and can’t expel them.

Victims of abuse who engage in harmful or unhealthy behaviours as a way of coping. Good people who struggle with sexual issues but are terrified to talk about it.

According to the World Health Organisation, 615 million people worldwide are battling depression or anxiety every day. They sleep in mansions and under bridges.

Some of them are Christians with thoughts of suicide, who dread hearing that they’re weak and don’t have enough faith. A quick Scripture, a brief prayer, and sending them away with a ‘God bless you’ only throws them to the wolves.

Jesus said, ‘I am sending you,’ because you have the Word, the Spirit, and the power to help them.

1 Chronicles 4-6, Acts 15:1-21

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Heartsick (2)

‘He gives power to the weak.’
Isaiah 40:29 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 12 June 2018

We say things like ‘As long as there’s life there’s hope,’ or ‘Hope is tying a knot in the rope and holding on,’ believing that things will get better. But when hope seems delayed or denied, mental and emotional illness can cause some people to look for a permanent way out.

Suicide excludes God. When you take your life there’s nothing more He can do for you.

It leaves a legacy of unresolved pain that will live on in the hearts of your loved ones. For generations Christian leaders have debated and disagreed on the question of suicide.

But every one of them believes these words: ‘Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression’ (Proverbs 12:25 NKJV). And depression, left undealt with, can end in self-destruction.

It may not be the result of a bullet or a drug overdose; it may be a decision to stop eating, or overeat, or stop reaching for help because the help they’ve received has not worked. But the end result is the same.

The Mental Health Foundation reports that in the UK, women are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders as men. People in low-income families are reportedly two to three times more likely to develop mental health problems than those in higher-income families.

Can the Bible offer some comfort? Yes. ‘He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength’ (Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV).

1 Chronicles 7-9, Acts 15:22-41

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Set the right example!

‘He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father…had done.’
2 Chronicles 26:4 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 13 June 2018

The punch line in a cartoon reads, ‘No matter what we teach our children, they insist on behaving just like us!’ We smile, but it’s a very serious matter.

One expert says, ‘We teach what we know, but we reproduce what we are.’ Your children may sometimes doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do.

So: 1) If you want them to have a quiet time with God, you have one.
2) If you want your children to be in church, take them, don’t send them.
3) If you don’t want your children using foul language, watch what comes out of your mouth.
4) If you don’t want your children to smoke, drink, or do drugs, you leave them alone.

When you say one thing but do another your children may still love you, but eventually they’ll lose respect for you. And what’s worse, they’ll think, ‘If the principles you preach don’t work for you, why should I try them?’

Your example will have more impact than all your exhortations. Read these two Scriptures carefully.

The first is found in the Old Testament: ‘He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father…had done.’ The second is found in the New Testament: ‘I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also’ (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV 2011 Edition).

Thousands of years separate those two Scriptures, but the truth they teach is timeless: so set the right example!

1 Chronicles 10-12, Acts 16:1-21