+Dev+ Michael D. Inman

Date: December 11, 2011 9:31 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Do Not Be Afraid
Do Not Be Afraid

"Mary was greatly troubled at [the angel's] words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary...'" (Luke 1:29-30).
Scripture Focus: Luke 1:26-33

The angel's greeting had Mary bewildered. Why would he come to her or to anyone in small-town Nazareth? With Herod tyrannizing the Jews, kingdom hopes seemed completely out of reach. Mary had been born into and raised during a time of bitterness for God's people, circumstances that perhaps moved her parents to give her the name that means "sea of bitterness." In this unlikely place with a girl from a lowly family during a time of despair, God came near...and the script begins to take surprising turns.

Mary's fears were eased by Gabriel's assurance that she had found grace with God. Favor can be earned, but grace is freely given. Mary found God's grace while she wasn't even looking! God approached her with freely-given, unearned grace.

And this is exactly how He approaches us today. In the messiness of our lives, while we're lost in our sorrows, God reaches out to us with a free gift beyond compare: new life in Jesus Christ and salvation in His name. Do not be afraid to accept it.

Insight: "...weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b). Your "morning" is now. Christ-mas morning will hold more joy than ever!


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."


Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Date: December 9, 2011 3:58 AM
Topic: +DEV+ The Young Girl: Mary

The Young Girl: Mary


"And Mary said, 'My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...From now on all generations will call me blessed'" (Luke 1:46-48).
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 7:10-14


With the stage set, enter the character who has stolen hearts for centuries: Mary. She was a real person in an actual historic time and place...the one whom every generation - including ours - would call "blessed" (vs. 48). But with the tendency of sincere believers to either exalt her and see her as sinless, or to ignore her completely, we have mostly allowed ourselves only a sentimental view of Mary, diminishing the world-shattering impact of the incarnation.


Mary did not praise herself. Rather she magnified and rejoiced in God. She pointed to Him. Though she's a main character in this great drama, it is actually God we learn more of through her.


As we dwell on Mary and her part in the Christmas story, we'll see that she was an instrument of God's providence, one through whom He would carry out His redemption plan. A theme arises that has been woven through Scripture since Genesis: in the most unlikely of places, hope often comes. May hope rise for you this Christmas season!


Insight: Resisting the tendency to glory in the glitter of Christmastime, let's sing instead with Mary, praising God for what He has done.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."




Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...

"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: December 8, 2011 12:37 AM
Topic: +DEV+ The First Baby: John

The First Baby: John

"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation..." (Luke 1:76-77a).
Scripture Focus: Luke 1: 57-80

How long would Zechariah be unable to speak? After hundreds of years of silence from God to His people, now the priest himself had been silenced! When his speech was restored, praise flowed like a river for the covenant-keeping God. No trace of doubt remained. Confident in the Lord and upright, he raised John to be strong in spirit (vs. 80) and groomed for his task: preparing the people for Jesus.

Elizabeth understood the supporting role - not the starring role - her baby would play. She happily submitted to that, acknowledging the honor Mary had been given. The strength and humility fostered in John through his parents shaped him into the adult who would stand up to the sway of popularity and declare, "I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him...[The] joy is mine...he must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:28-30).

Let your heart be prepared for the Christ-child who entered our sorrowing world for the joy set before Him: you and me!

Insight: As thoughts of Christmas preparations come, joyfully prepare to extol the covenant-keeping God who has not forgotten a single one of us.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: December 7, 2011 3:02 AM
Topic: +DEV+ The Priest's Wife: Elizabeth


The Priest's Wife: Elizabeth

"'But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy'" (Luke 1:43-44).
Scripture Focus: Luke 1: 36-45


It was Elizabeth's disgrace to be barren. Generations of her family history repeated the story. But God always worked through that disgrace, granting the seed which carried out His covenant promise. His promise to Zechariah would be fulfilled, too. Elizabeth - now six months pregnant - was elated. How immense her joy over what the Lord had done for her!

Yet she knew the child to be born was the forerunner for One even greater. The baby's ecstatic leap inside her womb confirmed the remarkable truth: long-expected Messiah was coming! Elizabeth and her beloved relative, Mary - one old, one young - stood in awe while God made the impossible possible in their lives. Elizabeth rejoiced in Mary's belief that what the Lord had said to her would be accomplished (vs. 45). Quite the opposite of her husband's first response to the angel's message!

With the stage set, the action would now move forward. Marvelously, it continues to move forward so that the birth of the Savior touches us still.

Insight: "Come, thou long-expected Jesus...hope of all the earth thou art; dear Desire of ev'ry nation, joy of ev'ry longing heart" (Charles Wesley).


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."


Date: December 6, 2011 1:54 AM
Topic: +DEV+ The Prophet: Isaiah


The Prophet: Isaiah

"For to us a child is born...and the government
will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 9:1-7

The opening act of the Christmas drama began in the Old Testament. For centuries God had been laying the groundwork for this moment when the promises He'd made - promises that began as soon as man chose sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15) - would be fulfilled. Hundreds of years before Jesus was even born, Isaiah wrote precise details about the Savior who would come from David's line to redeem His people. He told of a virgin who would conceive and give birth to a son. Isaiah wrote that He would be called Immanuel, God with us. God in human form would be given to us and would be with us. Amazing!

After centuries of waiting, God's people must have been thrilled to hear the words of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, Malachi, and others. Through years of silence, of exile and captivity, they would long for a word that would renew their hope and expectations. We, too, renew our hope during this Advent season, our hope in the second coming of Christ when He will return and make all things new.

Insight: Let's wait with joyful expectation and hope for the return of our King, remembering that every promise ever uttered by the Father has been kept.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: December 5, 2011 1:05 AM
Topic: +DEV+ God’s Favor


God’s Favor

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31).
Scripture Focus: Luke 1:26-37

Every married Jewish woman coveted the promised role of mother to the Messiah, but for a young teenager named Mary, it was probably the furthest thing from her mind. Betrothed to Joseph, her actual marriage had yet to take place. Imagine her surprise when the angel appeared proclaiming his amazing news. What had she done to find favor with God? Why had He chosen her? Could this be a mistake?

It is revealed in her story that even when she realized what the consequences could be—rejection, possibly even death—she humbled herself to God’s will. The angel proclaimed, “Do not be afraid,” and she believed him at this word. Mary found favor with God because her heart was open to His leading, not because of anything she did, but because of her willingness to humble herself before Him, no matter the cost. Imagine what she would have missed out on had she turned her back on the calling. Imagine what we miss out on every day because we are afraid to step out and say yes to God.

Insight: Imagine what God can do with you, if you too humble yourself before Him. Say yes to His calling and let the adventure begin.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: December 2, 2011 12:08 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Mary’s Song

Mary’s Song

“Mary said, ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.’” (Luke 1:46-48)
Scripture Focus: Luke 1:46-55

Mary, a young Jewish virgin from Nazareth, was chosen by God to be the mother of His only Son. When an angel suddenly appeared to her and told her the surprising news, Mary’s humble response was simply to say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (vs.38)

Shortly after that amazing experience Mary went to visit Elizabeth, an older relative who was also pregnant. Mary may have been somewhat in a state of shock after her visit with an angel, but talking with Elizabeth helped clear her head. She began thinking about what a great gift God was giving her, and she praised Him from her heart

Though the Bible says she “said” the words rather than singing them, her words are commonly referred to as a hymn (vs. 46-55). It was probably sung by Christians through the centuries for worship. With great humility she praised God for His goodness to her and His chosen people, for His faithfulness and power, and for His holiness and mercy.

Like Mary, we can praise God from a full heart.

Insight: Mary’s hymn was personal: “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” That song, coming from a personal relationship with Him, is what God longs to hear.

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: December 1, 2011 12:08 AM
Topic: +DEV+ A Birthday Song


A Birthday Song

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” (Luke 2:13-14)
Scripture Focus: Luke 2:1-12

Every Christmas my friend’s family gets together and acts out the story of Jesus’ birth. Then they sing happy birthday to Jesus. The grandchildren love it!

Jesus’ first birthday song was sung by a heavenly choir to shepherds watching their sheep. Throughout the ages since then, musicians have written and performed many variations of that simple praise song. Beautiful as many of them are, I’m sure none measures up to the original.

Jesus’ birthday song doesn’t, at first glance, even seem to be about Him, but more about God the Father (“Glory to God in the highest”) and humankind (“men on whom his favor rests”). But Jesus is referred to in the song—“peace.” He came to bring peace to those who would trust in Him. He is called The Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6.

Humans can sing His praises better than the angels because Jesus came to die for our sin, to give us “peace that transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

Insight: Jesus came to fill our hearts with His peace. Do you sometimes take that for granted? We should praise Him for it every day.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 30, 2011 12:14 AM
Topic: +DEV+ False Messages


False Messages

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (JOHN 1:14)
Scripture Focus: John 5:19-30

Have you ever received a message with contradictions and falsehoods? What a mess it created! The more you tried to address it, the more confused you became. Eventually, you had to get back to the beginning to figure out the truth in order to correct what went wrong.

Incorrect messages come to us on many different levels, and it is one of the most subtle and damaging tactics Satan uses on us spiritually and emotionally. He gives us just enough truth to make his lies seem plausible, making sin look acceptable, and other people and things worth worshiping. And if we are not prepared, we march right in accepting his deceptive messages as truth. It can happen to any one of us, at any time.

How do we guard against responding to his false messages? We must first understand and acknowledge how inclined our hearts are towards sin, how very frail we are. Then we must guard our hearts by knowing God, His Word, and His Son. When the truth of Jesus Christ grips our lives, false messages vanish.

Insight: The First False Message Was Delivered By Satan In The Garden, And Eve Fell For His Deception. Now We Must Keep Our Eyes On The Truth - Jesus.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 28, 2011 8:34 PM
Topic: +DEV+ The Year of the Lord's Favor
The Year of the Lord's Favor

"He has sent me...to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn..." (Isaiah 61:1-2)
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 61:1-3

The year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance are like two sides of the same coin. When God extends grace, or favor, to the oppressed, it of necessity means some level of judgement to the oppressor. Consider early America's period of slavery in the 1800s. When the slaves of Southern plantations were emancipated, their freedom came at the price of a war that cost the lives of thousands and eventually meant higher costs of labor to plantation owners. Both favor and vengeance came rolling out through the Civil War.

The ultimate vengeance of our God was taken out on the Son of God in order to allow for the year of the Lord's favor and grace to us. Our battle has been fought and won! Victory is ours through Jesus. The price of God's grace to us was the death of the Jesus on the cross so that through Him we have been justified and declared righteous. God, in His justice, made His Son the object of His wrath on our behalf so that the year of the Lord's favor would reign in our hearts.

Insight: While God's grace is free to us, it is not without great cost. Jesus took on the vengeance of God on our behalf.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 27, 2011 9:02 PM
Topic: +DEV Thanksgiving in Worship


Thanksgiving in Worship

"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." (PSALM 103:2)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 103

Giving thanks is a pretty common element of our everyday experience. We thank our spouse for doing the dishes. We thank the check-out person at the supermarket for his or her work. We thank our coworkers for doing their part to get the job done.

If thanksgiving is such a natural part of our earthly experience, how much more ought it characterize our relationship with our Creator and Redeemer? Interestingly, when Paul wants to sum up the posture of the unbelieving heart towards God, he doesn't single out sins like murder or adultery; rather, he points to a lack of thanksgiving (Romans 1:21). Ingratitude can either manifest itself as a sense of self-satisfaction, believing that all one has is a result of human effort, or an intense bitterness that is never satisfied. But when God applies the work of Christ to us, the Holy Spirit moves our heart's ingratitude to overflowing thanksgiving. This new heart recognizes God as the giver of all good gifts: both the good things we enjoy in this life, and especially the eternal gifts Christ has won for us.

Insight: Do You Give Thanks In Your Prayers And Worship? If Your Worship Is Faltering, Listen To The Psalmist And "Forget Not All His Benefits"!

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 23, 2011 1:18 AM
Topic: +DEV+ The Harvest

The Harvest

"Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field'" (Matthew 9:37-38).
Scripture Focus: Matthew 9:35-38

The beginning of the New Year is always a time of renewal and resolution. For me it's a reminder of a spiritual field ripe for harvest...many are waiting to hear and accept Jesus and His love. First century Christians were consumed with thoughts of the harvest and exhibited an intense passion for Christ and for serving Him with their lives. What is it that consumes Christians today? Probably not bringing our neighbors the news of the gospel. The fields are still ripe, but the granaries are yet to be filled. And there is no absence of harvesting equipment: churches, radio, literature, missions that span the world. Yet, while we focus on bigger buildings and even more dollars to build them, it would seem that the very cutting blades of Christendom are either missing or are so dull that little is being harvested.

Let our prayer be that in this world - confused and tormented as it is - we experience a freshness of God's wind and fire to strengthen and energize us, and to bring many people to the Savior.

Insight: In Our Highly Competitive Culture, We Christians Must Stand Out With A Positive Influence That Comes From Being Fully Devoted Followers Of Christ.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 21, 2011
Topic: +DEV+ Worship in a Minor Key

Worship in a Minor Key

"For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave."
(PSALMS 88:3)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 88

I've often heard worship leaders encourage congregations to leave
their troubles and cares behind when they enter the sanctuary to
worship. While I can understand the sentiment, statements like these
seem to suggest either that worship is somehow disconnected from our
everyday struggles or that worship is not an appropriate place for
emotions like grief or sadness.

Yet Scripture suggests just the opposite. First, our worship is
intimately connected to our everyday life because the God we worship
is one who acts in history - in our everyday lives. He forgives real
sins, defeats real enemies, and saves real people like you and me.
Secondly, grief and sadness are entirely appropriate emotions in
worship. Our reading for today is a supreme example of a real
believer struggling with real problems, bringing his complaint to the
Lord. What father would not want to hear from his children when they
are troubled? Yet we resist ending with lament. For Jesus, the true
voice in this psalm, has finally defeated our ultimate enemy, turning
our mourning into joy.

Insight: "His Anger Lasts Only A Moment, But His Favor Lasts A
Lifetime; Weeping May Remain For A Night, But Rejoicing Comes In The
Morning." (Psalm 30:5)
--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Topic: +DEV+ Worship: Our Ultimate Destination

Worship: Our Ultimate Destination

"They worshiped God, Saying: 'Amen! Praise And Glory And Wisdom And Thanks And Honor And Power And Strength Be To Our God For Ever And Ever. Amen!'" (Romans 6:11)
Scripture Focus: Revelation 7

One Of The Most Helpful Inventions In Recent Years Has Been The GPS Navigation System For Our Automobiles. It Has Revolutionized The Way We Drive And, At Least In Theory, May Have Put An End To The Proverbial Arguments Between Spouses About Whether To Stop For Directions. The Best Part About Them Is That They Redirect Us When We Steer Off Course In An Unfamiliar City, Ensuring That We Arrive At Our Destination (Albeit Via A Longer Route).

Something Similar Happens Each Week When We Gather To Worship. During The Week, We Tend To Get Off Course. We Forget Where We're Headed And Instead Aimlessly Wander In A Spiritual Wilderness. Yet In Worship God Redirects Our Spiritual Bearings. He Exposes Our Sinful Misdirection. He Reminds Us Of The Humble Yet Unfailing Power Of Our Loving Guide. And He Gives Us A Taste Of The Eternal Worship That Is Our Destination. He Does All This To Ensure That His Children Make It Home For The Wedding Supper He Has Planned For Those Who Love Him And Are Called According To His Purpose.

Insight: Have You Steered Off Course Spiritually? Have You Forgotten Where You're Headed? Come And Worship, And God Will Renew You By His Grace.

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 17, 2011 11:39 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Children and Worship

Children and Worship

"He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'" (MARK 10:14)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 8, Mark 10:13-16

Picture the scene: Jesus is teaching the crowds, healing the sick, and preparing His disciples for the events that would soon follow when they arrived in Jerusalem. And into the fray walk several proud parents, bringing their infants to Jesus, requesting He bless them. Now, the disciples aren't too pleased with this. What are you thinking bringing your children to such an important man? We've got important business to attend to here! Don't you know who this is? The Messiah doesn't have time for children!

Yet Jesus' response is telling. "Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Like us often, the disciples misunderstood the kind of kingdom Jesus had come to inaugurate. To them, the things of God were "adult business" - too complex and weighty for kids. But Jesus' words remind them (and us) that this kingdom is for those the world considers weak, unimportant, outcast, and humble, not the strong and influential. May the Lord lead our children to worship, and lead us to worship more like children.
Insight: Children Rightly Approach God Without Anything To Offer. Do You Worship God Like A Child Or Do You Bring Something In Your Hands?
--
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 16, 2011 9:12 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Approach to God

Approach to God

"For our God is a consuming fire." (HEBREWS 12:29)
Scripture Focus: Leviticus 10:1-3, Hebrews 12:28-29

Our Leviticus reading today tells an admittedly haunting story. Two men with apparently good intentions offer "unauthorized" or "strange" fire to the Lord that is "contrary to his command" and pay for it with their own lives. If nothing else, this story teaches us that God takes worship seriously because His own reputation is at stake (see vs.3).

But we ought not to let this story leave us trembling with dread before the Lord. Instead, let it challenge our belief that we may approach God on our terms. Let it drive us to approach God where He has come to meet us: in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Approaching God on our own, dressed in our own merits and good works, will only be met with His consuming fire. Yet Jesus, being sinless in every way, endured the fire that our sins deserved and paved an eternal and sure way of entrance into God's presence for all who trust in Him. He is the way and the truth and the life, the very means of coming to the Father. So let us approach the Father with boldness in the name of the Son!
Insight: How Might This Story Also Impact How We Worship?
--
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 16, 2011 12:15 AM
Topic: Keep Your Fork

Keep Your Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal
illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was
getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him
come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what
scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be
buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when
the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly..

'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply.

'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be
buried with a fork in my right hand.'

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked.

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story,
and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message
to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my
years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when
the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would
inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite
part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety
chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with
substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in
my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want
you to tell them: 'Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young
woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would
see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a
better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what
heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as
much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was
coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and
they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right
hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the
fork?' And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he
had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them
about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the
people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them
that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it
either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it
remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are
a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to
succeed. Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share.Being
friends with someone is not an opportunity, but a sweet
responsibility.

Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND...and I'll bet this will
be an Email they do remember, every time they pick up a fork!
And just remember...keep your fork!

--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 14, 2011 9:33 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Evangelism and Worship

Evangelism and Worship

"So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, 'God is really
among you!'" (1 CORINTHIANS 14:25)
Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 14:20-25, Romans 10:5-21

If you're like most Christians, you probably struggle at some level
with the task of evangelism. You desire and pray for your
non-Christian family members and friends to come to know Jesus Christ
as their Savior, but speaking about spiritual matters (especially in
our current culture) is often difficult. How, then, can we bring our
friends into an encounter with God?

While our first reading for today is not without complexities, one
clear truth emerges that helps us answer that question. Paul says
that if an unbeliever enters the gathered worship service of the
church and hears "everyone prophesying" (i.e., speaking the Word of
God), he will be convinced he is a sinner and will acknowledge God's
presence among His church. Of course, this doesn't always happen, but
this passage does encourage us that God meets us in worship, and
those who enter will hear His voice. While a humble church service
may not be the place we would expect God to meet with sinners and
convert them, God does have a habit of doing the unexpected.

Insight: A Pastor Recently Told Me That The Worship Service Was The
Best Place For Our Unbelieving Friends To Be. Whom Might You Invite
This Week?
--

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 13, 2011 9:45 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Missions and Worship

Missions and Worship

"May the nations be glad and sing for joy." (PSALM 67:4)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 67, Matthew 28

"Missions exists because worship doesn't," writes John Piper in his
treatise on missions, Let the Nations Be Glad! Piper makes a point
here we ought not to miss. Often we are tempted to think that the
goal of the church is to do missions, as if mission work itself were
the objective. But Piper reminds us that the reason we do mission
work is because our God is not yet receiving the praise and
thanksgiving He so wonderfully deserves.

You see, friends, our God is so great, so magnificent, so awesome (in
the true sense of that word), so loving, so wise, so powerful, and so
holy that all the nations of this world ought to bring Him praise.
Just as Jesus came to this world as a humble servant in order to
redeem us from false worship unto true worship, so He sends us into
the world - humble and broken though we are - to bring other sinners
to His feet. May the world's lack of worship be the motivation in our
missions. And may our worship cause the name of Jesus to be lifted
high at home and abroad.

Insight: Think About Two Non-Christians You Know And Pray That God
Would Use You To Bring Them To Truly Worship God.
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Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 10, 2011 11:06 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Baptism and Worship

Baptism and Worship

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that we, too may live a new life." (ROMANS 6:4)
Scripture Focus: Matthew 28, Romans 6:1-14

Regardless of which church you attend, baptism, in some form or another, is a regular aspect of the public worship services. Unfortunately, the controversies that have surrounded baptism for the last 500 years - For whom? How? When? - have significantly hampered most Christians' ability to truly enjoy the blessing our Lord intended when He instituted this practice in His church.

How, then, should baptism be a blessing for us? To put it briefly, when someone is baptized in our church, we ought to take that opportunity to be reminded of all that the water symbolizes about the work of Christ for us. Remember that the blood of Christ has washed you clean from your sins (Titus 3:5). Remember that your old, sinful self died when Christ died, and you received a new life like His (Romans 6:4). Remember that you now have the power of Christ living within you uniting you to Him (Galatians 3:27). Remember that you have been given a new heart, one that is now growing in a desire and ability to live for God (Ezekiel 36:25).
Insight: Baptism is taken seriously by scripture and should therefore be taken seriously by us. Do you know the importance of baptism in worship?
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Topic: +DEV+ Prayer in Worship

Prayer in Worship

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." (COLOSSIANS 4:2)
Scripture Focus: Hebrews 4:14-16, Colossians 1:3-14

Prayer is that one aspect of worship we all know we should do more of yet often struggle to find the motivation to carry out. Thankfully, God knows all our weaknesses, and so He has filled His Word with many encouragements and motivators to help us become a more prayerful people. When I say "encouragements," I don't just mean "commandments." I mean truths about what God is like and what God has done that spur us on to pray.

Perhaps the greatest of those is the access we have to God in prayer under the Gospel. Scripture presents the Christian's access to God as unlimited because we come to Him in the name of the Son with whom the Father is well pleased. God throws open the doors of access so widely in order to compel us to come to Him with any and every concern we may have, with the assurance that He will hear our prayer. Unlike the many leaders of this world who are sequestered behind bodyguards, security fences and darkly tinted windows, our God is accessible through Jesus Christ.
Insight: Do You Find It Difficult To Pray? Consider The Unlimited Access To The Father Won For You By Jesus And Ask For Boldness In Prayer.

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

I have been invited to preach at "Let It Flow Evangelism" Church, in Rolla, next Sunday night (11/12/2011) at 411 W. Hwy 72. Sunday Night Service starts at 6:00PM
Pastor Douglas Cline is the senior pastor https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001452747898
https://www.facebook.com/LetItFlowEvangelism

I would like to make a special invitation for you to come and enjoy what the Lord has for us. If you don't live in the Rolla Area, You will miss out, unfortunately they don't have a way to record the service yet.
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Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 9, 2011 1:29 AM
Topic: +DEV+ A Permanent Priest

A Permanent Priest
"The former priests were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently." (HEBREWS 7:23-24 ESV)
Scripture Focus: Leviticus 16, Hebrews 7:11-28

I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to be an Old Testament Israelite. Clearly, there are the obvious drawbacks that come from living in a pre-industrial age: no refrigeration, no automobiles, no healthcare, etc. But perhaps the biggest downside that does not often come to mind is having to worship God through impermanent priests. Think about it. The one in charge of representing you before God could never guarantee he would be there tomorrow, or the next day, or the next, when you might have really needed him. His mortality made him ultimately unreliable.

But things have changed. A permanent priest who will never fail to represent His people perfectly in God's presence has replaced the impermanent priests. When we sin, His blood always intercedes. When we pray, He always hears. When we are tempted, He always helps. And, best of all, He will never die, because He already has died and received an indestructible life in return. In a world that is passing, Jesus gives us permanence.
Insight: "Before The Throne My Surety Stands/Before The Throne My Surety Stands/My Name Is Written On His Hands!" (Charles Wesley, 1707-1788)
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.
Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke..
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 8, 2011 12:19 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Worship and the Cross

Worship and the Cross

"Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.'" (HEBREWS 10:5)
Scripture Focus: Luke 23:26-49, Hebrews 10:1-10

It didn't look much like a church service. In fact, the lonely, windswept hill of Golgotha outside the city gates of Jerusalem was the last place we might expect anything of religious significance to take place. Yet despite all appearances to the contrary, it was there that the most significant act of worship in the history of the world took place. For it was there that the Messiah offered His body as a sacrifice.

It may have appeared to some that Jesus was taken to the cross against His will - that somehow the Romans and the Jews had gotten the better of Him. But that was certainly not the case. In fact, Jesus was doing exactly what He had come to do. He was taking the body His Father had prepared for Him and laying it down as a substitute for sinners. And, friends, it is from that act of worship that all of our worship must flow. His worship on the cross qualifies and inspires our worship in the church. Your church may have a cross on its wall or in its decor somewhere. When you see it, remember how Christ came into this world to redeem us.
Insight: "When I survey the wondrous cross/on which the prince of glory died/my richest gain I count but loss/and pour contempt on all my pride." (ISAAC WATTS, 1707)
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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 6, 2011 6:47 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Let Us Sing to the Lord

Let Us Sing to the Lord

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." (COLOSSIANS 3:16)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 95, Colossians 3:1-17

Often when I think of singing in worship, I think of the words I sing as primarily being my words - my response to what God has done. While there is certainly good reason to see our singing in that way, the Apostle Paul, in our reading from Colossians for today, provides a somewhat different perspective of singing in worship.

Singing, according to this passage, is one of the ways in which we "let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly." There are a few things worth noticing here. First, it is the Word of Christ that is to dwell richly within us through our singing. Singing is one way God draws us closer to Christ and His Word. Second, the "you" in the passage quoted at the top of the page is plural. (We would say "y'all" in Texas!) This means God has designed our singing as a way not only to let His Word dwell within us, but as a way we can help that same Word to take root in our fellow Christians. What a tremendous privilege! God's gracious and many-faceted gift of music allows us to sing out in praise and awe of Him.

Insight: What Is Your Favorite Hymn Or Spiritual Song? What Aspect Of The Work Of Christ Does It Center Upon? If You Can, Sing It Now!


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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 4, 2011 2:33 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Daily Worship

Daily Worship

"Impress [my commandments] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (DEUTERONOMY 6:7)
Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 6, Daniel 6

One of my favorite stories about daily worship is in Daniel 6. A conspiracy is hatched to kill 80-year-old Daniel, a Jewish exile from the Promised Land. The political leaders of Babylon figure that the best way to catch Daniel who was known as a worshiper of Yahweh is to establish a law against worshiping anyone but the king. According to the injunction, anyone caught worshiping or praying to another god would be thrown to the lions.

When news of the injunction reached Daniel, Scripture tells us that he "got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before" (Daniel 6:10). Daniel worshiped daily. Not even the threat of being fed to the lions would keep Daniel from showing devotion to his God!
Where did such courage come from? Was Daniel just a spiritual Superhero? No. Daniel simply knew his hope did not lie in the present evil age, but in the God who held his future. His confidence in the God of promise fanned his devotion in the midst of great threat.

Insight: The Prophets Were Actually Serving Us Through Their Writings
(1 Peter 1:10-12). Does The Reason Behind Daniel's Persistence In Daily Worship Encourage You?


Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.


Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: November 2, 2011 11:40 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Confession in Worship

Confession in Worship

"I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD' - and you forgave the guilt of my sin." (PSALM 32:5)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 32, Mark 2:1-12

Confession is not an easy thing to do. When we have sinned and we know it, rationalizations begin to flood our minds as to why hiding this sin from the Lord and from others would be far better than coming clean. "No one will ever know." "It didn't really hurt anyone." "I won't do it again." The list goes on.

But while hiding our sin may seem like the easiest road at the time, spiritual subterfuge will ultimately kill our ability to worship. Confession, on the other hand, has the power to ignite the most fervent worship we've ever known. Our reading today is a prime example. When David hid his sin, he wasted away (vs. 3). Yet when he acknowledged it to the Lord, he and his companions were able to rejoice and shout for joy again (v. 11).

We can only enjoy the freedom of confession when we know God will forgive us, and when we bring our sins to Him. So, Christian, hear the words of Jesus, your Lord: "My son, your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). Let those words of comfort soak in.

Insight: Our Reading Of Scripture Should Always Lead Us To Confession At Some Level. Where Is God Leading You To Confess Today?

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Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.
Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."