Daily Encounter with: ACTS International

Today's Daily Encounter

Commitment

"Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,
what God in his kindness has done through the churches
in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles,
and they are very poor. But they are also filled with
abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
For I can testify that they gave not only what they
could afford, but far more. And they did it of their
own free will. They begged us again and again for the
privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in
Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for
their first action was to give themselves to the Lord
and to us, just as God wanted them to do."1

I have read how, after a large gathering of Christian
youth, a church staff member was counting the
offering. Included with all the donations there was a
teen-aged girl's picture. Had someone taken that
picture from someone's wallet and thrown it in the
offering as a practical joke? That's the kind of thing
teenagers sometimes do. On the back of her own picture,
however, a girl had written, "I have nothing to give
but myself."2

Whether we have little or much to give--monetary
wise--the gift God wants us to give first of all is
the gift of ourselves! As we do this may we, too, like
the Macedonian believers, be filled with abundant joy,
which will also overflow in rich generosity.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, for all that you have
done for me in giving your Son, Jesus, to die on the
cross in my place to pay the penalty for all my sins
so that I can be freely forgiven and therein receive
your gift of eternal life, I freely give my life to
you for faithful service. So help me God. Thank you
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in
Jesus' name, amen."

1. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NLT).
2. http://www.autoillustrator.com/preahing.html.

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Living With an Alcoholic

"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many
advisers they succeed."1

A Daily Encounter reader writes, "I am having a very
difficult time and need help. I am angry a lot and do
not know how to go about changing to be how I should
be. My husband is an abusive alcoholic and keeps
verbally jabbing me until I get angry and then he uses
my anger against me. What should I do? Please help me."


Dear Jennifer (name changed). Unfortunately you can't
change your husband. If you try to, it will make him
angry and more abusive. The reality is that the only
person we can ever change is ourselves and when we
change, those around us are forced to change in their
relationship to us. This is not always for the best,
however, as people don't want us to change and can get
very mean and nasty if we do. However nothing changes
if nothing changes. Husbands like yours refuse to take
responsibility for their actions and need someone to
blame their anger on, so for your own sake you are the
one who needs to change. If you don't change what you
are contributing, you become a part of the family
sickness.

It won't be easy but what you need to do is to
exercise tough love. Make it very clear to your
husband that you will no longer tolerate the way he
treats you and if he continues to do so, you will have
to distance or separate yourself from him until he gets
into a recovery program and overcomes his addiction to
alcohol and treats you with loving respect all the
time. So while you can't change him, with help, you
can change you. For your survival it is imperative
that you do so.

You also need to realize the reason you were attracted
to this type of man in the first place. Chances are
that you are a codependent and, as such, mistake need
for love. In other words you need to be needed in
order to feel loved. I urge you to ask God to confront
you with the truth about you no matter how much it
hurts and to lead you to the help you need to overcome
your problem. This is difficult. I know. But as long as
you blame your husband for your problems and not look
at what you are contributing, you will never find
peace, love or contentment. And as it is nigh on
impossible to make these changes by yourself, I urge
you to get some qualified counseling help and at the
very least join a twelve-step Al-Anon group--a group
for the spouses of alcoholics. You will be able to
find information about these groups by contacting the
Al-Anon and Alateen web site at
http://www.al-anon.org/index.php.

And above all, every day ask God to help you to be "as
Jesus" not only to your husband but also to yourself.
And remember, Jesus used tough love to drive the money
changers out of the temple when they were abusing it.
To be like Jesus we all need to exercise tough love
when required. Tough love is the most loving thing you
can do for your husband--and for yourself.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in all of my problems and
conflicts, give me the courage to see exactly what I am
contributing and then lead me to the help I need to
change. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 15:22 (NIV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

No Guarantee

To the rich man in Jesus' parable who said to himself,
"I have plenty of good things laid up for many years.
Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry," God said,
"You fool! This very night your life will be demanded
from you."1

This past week a teacher friend of mine attended an
extremely sad funeral. One of the younger teachers
from his school was on her way home with her two young
children. She stopped her car in the driveway at their
home to pick up the mail from the mail box. Somehow
her car started to run towards the house. She ran to
protect her children and got caught between the car
and the garage--was pinned to the garage door--and
killed. One moment she was alive and vibrant, the next
her life was snuffed out.

Life can be like that. One of our ACTS Board members,
still in his forties, found out one November that he
had cancer. He died in January. Every time I drive on
the Los Angeles freeways and see a lunatic speeding
driver darting in and out of heavy traffic, I
tremble--not so much for him but for myself and/or for
someone else's loved one that, in a split second, he is
just as likely to kill or maim for life.

The reality is that not one of us has any guarantee of
tomorrow. Whether our life is taken suddenly or if we
should live to a ripe old age, it is imperative that
we are ready to go because, as God's Word says, "It is
appointed for men to die once, but after this the
judgment"2 And again, "Prepare to meet your God."3

According to God's Word, after this life we will all
appear before God as either our Savior or our judge.
It is crucial that we make that choice today. To be
sure you are prepared to meet God as your Savior do
read the article, "To Know God and be sure you're a
real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that over and
over you have warned all mankind in your Word, the
Bible, that the human soul never dies in that there is
life after physical death either with you in heaven or
apart from you in hell (whatever and wherever that may
happen to be). Please help me to be certain that when
my time is up, I will meet you as my Savior and not my
judge. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. See Luke 12:16-20 (NIV).
2. Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV).
3. Amos 4:12 (NKJV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com


Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Heaven Is Beautiful

"Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth,' for the
first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and
there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the
new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her
husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne
saying, 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the
people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his
people, and God himself will be with them and be their
God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There
will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away.'"1

You may have seen the video about the blind man
sitting by the side of the road begging but wasn't
receiving much help. A passerby came along, read the
man's sign and walked on. Then she stopped, returned
to the beggar, picked up his sign and re-wrote the
message, then went on her way.

The response to the beggar's sign improved
dramatically. All day long passerby people were
throwing coins into his lap. Late in the day a lady
stopped to talk to him wanting to know how his day
went. The beggar recognized the lady so excitedly
asked what she did to his sign that made all the
difference.

His sign had said, "I'm blind. Please help." The lady
had turned it over and wrote, "It is a beautiful day
and I can't see it."2

Dear reader, when it comes to God and spiritual sight
we are blind and cannot see with human eyes what lay
ahead. Let us be sure to listen to what God has to say
about heaven. Not only is it God's dwelling place but
right now Jesus is there preparing a place for all his
true followers and promised to return to take us
there.3

It's beauty is beyond compare. Here's a tiny glimpse:
"The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure
gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city
walls were decorated with every kind of precious
stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second
sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the
fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite,
the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth
turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth
amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each
gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the
city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass."4

Best of all, God will be there and there will no
longer be any need for the sun or the moon as the
Bible says, "The city [heaven] does not need the sun
or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives
it light, and the Lamb [Jesus] is its lamp."5 And all
of his true followers will be there in their new
heavenly body--and there will be no more sickness,
sadness or sorrow, no more parting, and no more dying.


Heaven is indeed beautiful. Whatever you do, make sure
you get to see it.

To do so be absolutely sure to pick up your Passport
for Heaven. Don't leave earth without it. Go to:
www.actsweb.org/passport.php or read the article, "How
to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at:
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you have
given your Son, Jesus, to die in my place on the cross
to pay the penalty for all my sins, and in so doing you
have offered me a full pardon for all my sins and with
that a home in Heaven to be with you for all eternity.
Help me to be certain that I have received your
forgiveness and have accepted your invitation to
Heaven. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Revelation 21:1-5 (NIV).
2. See the video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU.
3. John 14:1-3.
4. Revelation 21:18-21 (NIV).
5. Revelation 21:23 (NIV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

ISRAEL: God's Center Piece of History

"Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither
slumber nor sleep."1

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth."2 He also created the first man and woman, Adam
and Eve--a simple story with profound consequences in
that God created mankind with a free will and not as a
puppet on a string. God put Adam and Eve to a test to
see if they would voluntarily choose to follow his
directions or go their own way. The test was simple:
they were told that they could eat of the fruit of
every tree in the Garden of Eden except for just one
tree.3

There was nothing complicated about this choice until
Satan, chief of the fallen angels, entered the
picture. Ever since Satan attempted to overthrow God
and was subsequently "dethroned from his high position
in God's order."4 he has hated God and has used every
form of deception possible in his attempt to destroy
the apex of God's creation: mankind! To do this Satan
deceived Adam and Eve by telling them a part truth
(which can be the most deceptive form of lying there
is), and in so doing lured them into disobeying God's
directive and eating the forbidden fruit.5 In this act
mankind chose to disbelieve God and reject his
direction, and believe in and follow Satan's. This was
the entrance of sin and evil into the human race, and
the beginning of the battle between good and evil--a
battle that has continued ever since and rages as much
as ever in today's world.

This battle increased significantly when Abraham, the
father of the nation of Israel, chose to do exactly
the opposite of what Adam and Eve did. He chose to
believe God and follow his directives. Because of this
God chose Abraham's descendants, the Israelites, to be
the nation through which he would bring healing for
mankind. God did this through the birth of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world.6
Furthermore, when Christ returns to earth, he will
come directly to Israel, and rule and reign throughout
the millennium from Jerusalem.7

You can understand why, since the beginning of the
nation of Israel, Satan has done and is still doing
everything he can to totally destroy this nation.

According to the Bible the climax of world history
will be when the nations of the world, headed by the
Antichrist (Satan's emissary), will unite to come
against Israel in an attempt to destroy her forever.8
This war, the like of which the world has never before
seen, is known as Armageddon. At this point Jesus
Christ will return to earth from Heaven, will rescue
Israel and totally destroy the opposing armies. He
will then set up his Kingdom and rule and reign on
earth from Jerusalem for a thousand years9--after
which he will create a new earth and a new heaven.10

In his first coming to earth, Jesus came as a servant
to identify with lost mankind and give his life as a
sacrifice to pay the penalty for mankind's sin and to
save all who believe in him from the tragic
consequences of sin and evil. Make no mistake,
however, in his second coming Jesus Christ will come
as King of kings and Lord of lords to rule and reign
for all eternity.10

And Satan, the father of all deception, lies and evil,
with his horde of evil followers, will be bound during
the millennium and at the end be cast into hell
forever.11

Keep an eye on Israel. This tiny nation is without
doubt--in God's plan--the center stage for the world's
final battle between good and evil. Thus, the more we
see nations uniting to oppose Israel, the more we need
to realize that the setting of the stage for the
entrance of the Antichrist is accelerating. At the
same time the setting of the stage for the second
coming of Jesus Christ also will be accelerating.
According to the Bible, Christ's return will be the
end of world history as we know it.10

In the meantime every individual needs to choose
whether he or she is on the side of God and good--or
on the side of Satan and evil--which will include
being for or against Israel. About Israel, God
promised Abraham: "I will make you into a great
nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name
great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those
who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through
you."12 Beware to all nations who dare to come against
Israel, or in the end they will find themselves
fighting against God.

There is no neutral ground with God. If we are not for
him, we are against him. As Jesus said, "Whoever is not
with me is against me."13 And as Dietrich Bonhoeffer
said, "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God
will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak.
Not to act is to act."

I urge you today to take a stand for good against all
evil; for Israel against all who are anti-Israel, for
Jesus Christ against all who are for anti-the-Christ,
and for God against Satan. Just as it was with the
first man and woman, every individual is called upon
to make that choice.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please open the eyes of
my understanding so that I can clearly see your
purpose for me and for all mankind, and be fully aware
of your plan for the climax of world history. Please
give me the courage to make the choice to believe in
and follow your directives and, in so doing, take an
active stand for all that is good and of you, and a
definite stand against all that is evil and of Satan,
the devil. So help me God. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

NOTE: If you have never taken a stand for God, you can
make a start today by accepting Jesus Christ as your
Lord and Savior and in so doing, receive God's
forgiveness for all your sins. For help go to:
www.actsweb.org/christian.

1. Psalm 121:4 (NIV).
2. Genesis 1:1 (NIV).
3. See Genesis 2:16-17.
4. Isaiah 14:12-15.
5. Genesis 3:3.
6. Matthew 1:1.
7. Zechariah 14:4.
8. Revelation 16:12-16
9. Revelation 20:1-6.
10. Revelation 21:1-3.
11. Revelation 20:1-3; 20:7-10.
12. Genesis 12:2-3.
13. Matthew 12:30.

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com


Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Inch by Inch ...

"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never
get anything done. Keep on sowing your seed, for you
never know which will grow--perhaps it all will."1

I recently read about a woman who planted some 50,000
daffodil bulbs in her back yard--one at a time--over a
period of nearly fifty years!

"Year after year, she kept planting bulbs until she
had created five acres of ineffable magnificence,
beauty and inspiration. After seeing the spectacular
garden one woman remarked, 'It makes me sad in a
way. What might I have accomplished if I had thought
of a wonderful goal 35 or 40 years ago and had worked
on it one bulb at a time through all those years? Just
think what I might have been able to achieve!' Her
daughter responded, 'Start tomorrow.' The mother said,
'I'll start today.'"2

It's amazing what can be accomplished by doing just a
little every day, day after day. You've probably heard
the old saying that says, "Inch by inch anything's a
cinch--but yard by yard it's miles too hard."

When I first wanted to write a book, it seemed like an
overwhelming task. However, a friend suggested I
considered writing just one page at a time. "I can
handle that," I said to myself … and that's what I did
205 times.

Not many people are going to plant five acres of
daffodils and not everybody is going to write a book.
However, the important thing is to invest your life in
a worthwhile cause that will achieve at least three
things: (1) it will have eternal value, (2) it will
benefit others, and (3) it will give you a deep sense
of satisfaction in that you will not have lived in
vain but have achieved something worthwhile with your
life. It doesn't have to be profound or earth
shattering--just significant. And that you can start
today … one "bulb," one "page," one kind word of
encouragement, one act of kindness at a time … every
day for the rest of your life.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a noble
cause for which to live--not so big that it will cause
me to be proud … not so small that it will never be a
challenge … but big enough to make me stretch and grow
… and give my life significance. And most of all grant
that it will be a blessing to others and bring glory
to your name. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Ecclesiastes 11:4, 6 (TLB)(NLT).
2. KneEmail #777, Mike Benson, Editor,
http://www.oakhillcoc.org

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com


Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Making Today Count

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has
conceived what God has prepared for those who love
him."1

I have read how, when William Montague Dyke was a
child, he was blinded in an accident, but he never
allowed this handicap to deter him. He graduated with
high honors from an English university and, while a
student, fell in love with the daughter of a
high-ranking British naval office whom he was to
marry.

Before the wedding he had an eye operation in the
hopes that it would restore his eyesight. However, he
didn't want the bandages removed from his eyes until
his wedding day when he stood before his bride to be.
If the surgery failed, he would remain blind for the
rest of his life. If successful, the person he wanted
to see first was to be his bride.

The wedding day arrived. The dignitaries and guests
waited in anticipation as the organ played the wedding
march and the bride, accompanied by her father and the
groom's surgeon, slowly walked the aisle to the altar.
As William's sweetheart stood before him, the surgeon
took a pair of scissors from his pocket and removed
the bandages.

The entire party and all the guests held their breath
for a brief moment until they heard the words of
William which echoed throughout the cathedral as he
said to his soon-to-be bride, "You're more beautiful
than I ever imagined!"2

In one sense this gives us a faint glimpse as to what
it will be like when we get to heaven and stand face
to face with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When
we see him in all his majestic beauty--the God of all
creation--no words this side of heaven could ever
describe, nor any imagination ever perceive, what this
experience will be like. As a hymn we used to sing with
great enthusiasm in my childhood days expressed it,
"When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing
that will be. When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and
shout the victory!"

Just make sure that your name is written in God's book
of life and that you, too, are on your way to heaven.
For help be sure to read, "How to know God and be sure
you're a real Christian" at:
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, Thank you for your
wonderful promise that all who believe in your Son,
Jesus, and have accepted him as their personal Lord
and Savior and have had their sins forgiven have
Jesus' promise that he is now in Heaven preparing a
place for us and is coming back to take us to be with
him and you for all eternity. 'What a day of rejoicing
that will be.' Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV).
2. Adapted from Making Today Count for Eternity, by
Ken Crockett. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001,
pp. 101-102. Cited on www.sermons.com.

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
What We Project

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my
disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth
will set you free."1

It's amazing how many people actually blame God, the
devil or anyone else for their own irresponsible
behavior. I have a talk I used to give that I titled,
"The Devil Didn't Make Me Do It--I Can Mess Things Up
All by Myself." And I can. Sure we are all tempted
from time to time but each of us is responsible for
the choice we make either to resist temptation or to
give in to it.

A former supporter of our work, a man in his
mid-thirties complained to me about the opposite sex
because of his repeated experiences in failed
relationships and tried, without success, to get me to
agree with him in his self-justification. No chance. A
distressed young woman bemoans the fact that she and
her boyfriend fell pregnant and wondered why God
allowed it to happen. Amazing? Another man I know is
convinced that there's something wrong with most of
the men he has had dealings with because none of them
like him.

And here's a classic from a woman in a support group I
was leading some time ago. "I can't understand why God
gave me such a terrible husband," she bitterly moaned
in a whiney poor-me tone of voice.

"Who chose your husband?" I asked.

"God did!" she said and was dead serious. Her
avoidance of personal responsibility and denial of
reality was painfully pathetic. There was no way I
could even begin to get her to face reality, let alone
get her to take a good hard look to see the truth about
herself. Without access to the truth there is no
resolution, no recovery, and no freedom.

"When dealing with people [like this]," Jim Rohn says,
"I generally take the obvious approach. When someone
says, 'This always happens to me and that always
happens to me. Why do these things always happen to
me?' I simply say, 'Beats me. I don't know. All I know
is that those kinds of things seem to happen to people
like you.'"

That might sound tough but it's true. The fact is that
what we project is what we get back and what we allow
we reinforce. We either face reality and admit exactly
what our part is in all of these situations and get
into a recovery program, or we continue to repeat our
past negative patterns. As the saying goes, "If we
keep doing what we've always done, we'll keep getting
what we've always got, and we'll keep feeling what
we've always felt." It's either resolution or
repetition.

The only people God or anyone can help are those who
say, "I have a problem. I need help." And as long as
you and I allow people in our life to get away with
boundary-busting, irresponsible behavior, we become a
part of their sickness.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, whenever I'm in a jam or
caught in a conflict or a problem, please give me the
courage to face reality and see the truth of what I am
contributing to the situation. And then give me the
good sense to do something about it and resolve my
part in it. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. John 8:31-32 (NIV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

The Opposite of Bad Isn’t Good

"Do you want to be made whole?"1

As noted yesterday, God's goal isn't to make us good
for goodness sake. It is to fix us from the inside and
to make us whole. We know that Jesus came to seek and
to save those who were lost, but he never asked anyone
directly, "Do you want to be saved?" His invitation
was, "Do you want to be made whole or well?"

In several places in the Bible the word for saved can
be equally translated healed. God's goal for us is to
heal the whole person in body and mind as well as in
spirit. Accepting Jesus as Savior is just the
beginning point. We are then to go on to maturity, to
grow and become whole. This takes time. It is a
process. There is no such thing as instant wholeness
or instant maturity.

To be made whole we need to want it badly enough that
we are willing to face and resolve the root causes of
our negative behaviors, poor relationships, sins and
sicknesses that are caused by unresolved personal
issues--whatever they might be. We need to come out of
denial (be real) and be connected to our dark side
(those areas of our life that we don't particularly
want to see and definitely don't want others to see),
and confess these not only to God, but also to at
least one safe, loving, and non-judgmental person--and
be loved and accepted by that person in spite of our
failures. As James said, "Confess your sins and faults
to one another, and pray for one another so that you
may be healed."2 This is the path to healing and
wholeness and also the way to grow in love, with love
being the highest fruit of wholeness.

So the opposite of bad is not being good, but being
made whole. Goodness that comes from the heart will be
the result.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me, not only
to be connected to you through Jesus, but also
connected to my 'dark side' and to safe, loving, and
accepting people to be loved, healed and made whole so
that my life, actions, behaviors and relationships will
be wholesome--and all goodness in my life will be the
fruit or result of being made whole. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. John 5:6.
2. James 5:16.

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

God's Goal Isn't to Make Us Good

"We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching
every man with all wisdom, so that we may present
every man complete [mature] in Christ. For this
purpose also I labor, striving according to His power,
which mightily works within me."1

We don't have to be good for goodness sake!

In fact, as strange as it may seem, being good may be
our worst enemy. It was for the Pharisees. Their
external goodness was a cover-up to avoid seeing who
and what they were on the inside. Jesus didn't approve
of their external religiosity! In fact, he opposed it
vehemently because it was an outward act and not an
inward response.

It can bring a great sense of freedom to realize that
God isn't into rules, but rather relationships. His
goal isn't to make us good, but to make us whole and
to see us healed from the inside out. The end result
will be goodness but goodness that comes from a healed
heart--not from adhering to rules dictated by legalism.

This is not an excuse to act out in sinful or
destructive behaviors. Not at all. As the Apostle Paul
said, "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may
increase? By no means."2

What it does mean is that I need to grow towards
wholeness and maturity by recognizing my inner
brokenness, my weaknesses, and my unresolved character
issues and bring them not only to God for healing, but
also to a trusted friend and/or counselor. As James
said, "Therefore confess your sins [and faults] to
each other and pray for each other so that you may be
healed."3

Again, God's goal is not to make us good, but to make
us whole. It's the heart that counts with him, not the
externals. If all I have is external goodness, I am no
better than the Pharisees. Realize too, that only to
the degree that we are made whole will our lifestyle,
our attitudes, our actions, our behaviors, and our
relationships be wholesome.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see my
broken parts so I can bring them to you for healing.
Face me with my reality, make me whole, and lead me to
the help that I need to do this. Thank you for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name,
amen."

1. Colossians 1:28-29 (NASB).
2. Romans 6:1 (NIV).
3. James 5:16 (NIV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com


Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

No to the Ten Suggestions

"If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to
follow them … then the Lord will keep you free from
every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible
diseases you knew in Egypt."1

Television's well-known newscaster, Ted Koppel, said
one night on ABC's Nightline:

"We have actually convinced ourselves that slogans
will save us. 'Shoot up if you must, but use a clean
needle.' Or, 'Enjoy sex whenever and with whomever you
wish, but protect yourself.'

"No! The answer is no! Not because it isn't cool or
smart or because you might wind up in jail or dying in
the AIDS ward, but because it's wrong!

"What Moses brought down from Mount Sinai were not the
Ten Suggestions, but the Ten Commandments!"

Author Dr. S.I. McMillen in his book, None of These
Diseases, pointed out how many of the directives given
by God to the ancient Israelites were for health and
hygiene purposes. God assured his people that if they
obeyed his laws they would be free from the diseases
the Egyptians suffered. Not to eat pork (for obvious
reasons back then) was just one of these. It's the
same with all of God's directives and commandments.
They are for our total well-being--physical and
emotional as well as spiritual.

We can't improve on God's plan. The wisest thing to do
is to get in on it.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to live by your
rules and not mine, because your rules are for my
total well-being--physical, emotional and spiritual.
Thank you for giving us these rules by which to live
life to the fullest. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Deuteronomy 7:12, 15 (NIV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com


Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Choices

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you,
then choose for yourselves this day whom you will
serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond
the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land
you are living. But as for me and my household, we
will serve the LORD."1

Michael Josephson of Character Counts shared how, "two
young men in Florida removed a stop sign and brought it
back to their fraternity house as a trophy. A fatal
accident occurred at the sign-less intersection and
the men were convicted of manslaughter.

"In Tennessee, a couple of teenagers were in a
high-rise building and one took a dare by the other
and slid down a trash chute in the hall--right into an
automatic trash compactor. He died and his friend was
traumatized, possibly for life.

"What makes these stories all the more tragic is that
we're not talking about bad kids; we're talking about
fundamentally decent kids who made really bad
choices."

Good people can make bad choices just as bad people
can make good choices. The fact is we are all the sum
total of all of our past choices. Our past was shaped
by the choices we made in the past. Our future will be
shaped by the choices we make today.

Let us be certain not to make our choices by default,
but by very careful and prayerful planning, for the
choices we make will make us--for time and eternity.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please forgive me for all
the bad choices I have made in the past and help me to
make wise and careful choices today and in the future.
As with Joshua of old … 'as for me and my household we
will serve the Lord.' Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."

Note: If you have never made the choice to accept
Jesus Christ as your Savior and thereby receive God's
forgiveness for all your sins, for help read, "How to
Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at:
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian

1. Joshua 24:15 (NIV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Imprisoned by “Shoulds"

"When you are angry, do not sin. When you are in bed,
look deep down inside you and be silent. Selah."1

Do you always do what you truly want to do, or do you
give in to other's wants because you are afraid to say
no? Are you swayed by what others think because you
fear you won't be liked if you don't do what they want
or think you should do?

A part of growth and maturity is recognizing our
legitimate needs, taking responsibility for getting
them met in healthy ways, and by being our own person
in that we are being true to ourselves and not
allowing ourselves to be controlled by what others
want, think, or expect. The healthy, mature person
makes decisions on the basis of what he/she knows is
right for him/her. While we don't give in to others'
demands, it doesn't mean that we never give in to
their wishes. It means that we do what we choose to
do, not because somebody else says we should, but
because we want and freely choose to do so. Living by
others' "shoulds" will imprison us!

Like David, learn to listen to your heart. Your heart
knows what you want and need. Learn to say no to
others' demands when you know that to say no is the
right thing for you to do. Allowing ourselves to be
controlled by others' demands and "shoulds" also makes
us angry inside.

Remember, without the freedom to say "no" our "yeses"
are meaningless.

We can learn to listen to our heart "deep down inside
us" and trust it. I was taught that I could never
trust my feelings (heart). Wrong. I have since learned
that I can always trust my feelings. What I can't
always trust is my interpretation of them. However,
with practice I'm getting much better at it, and
believe I am a much wiser, healthier, and more mature
person as a result.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to listen to my
heart and become real. Help me to listen to what my
inner self is telling me and above all else, help me
to listen to what you are saying. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus
Name, amen."

1. Psalm 4:4 (NIRV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com
Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.
When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

New Year's Tips for Better Living

"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and
enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and
he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit
your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do
this: He will make your righteousness shine like the
dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday
sun."1

Here are twenty tips for better living in the New
Year:

1. Rise and pray every day: "Again today, dear God, I

commit and trust my life and way to you. I'm
available.
Please use me to be 'as Jesus' to every life I
touch."
2. Don't sweat the small stuff.
3. Remember these simple sentences: "I was wrong."
"I am sorry." "Please forgive me." "Thank you."
Say
them whenever needed and say "I love you" often--
whether needed or not.
4. Come apart and rest a while before you come
apart--
stress is a killer.
5. Remember, "Nothing changes if nothing changes."
6. Don't nurse grudges: "Failing to forgive is like
drinking
poison and waiting for the other person to die."
7. Carpe diem. Seize the day. "Opportunity comes to
pass--not to pause."
8. Quit the blame-game--"choice, not chance,
determines
destiny."
9. Control your thinking or your thinking will
control you.
"What the mind dwells on the body acts on."
10. Invest your life in a worthwhile cause by having a

noble purpose for which to live--one that is
bigger than
yourself--one that will help make your world a
better
place in which to live.
11. Be a positive realist. You will always see what
you are
looking for: "Two men look out the same prison
bars.
One sees mud, the other stars."
12. The greatest abilities are availability,
dependability,
and responsibility."
13. "There is no pillow as soft as a clear
conscience."
14. "Smooth seas never make skillful sailors."
15. When God is silent. "I believe in the sun even
when it
isn't shining. I believe in love even when I am
alone.
I believe in God even when he is silent."
16. Cry when needed. "Every unshed tear is a prism
through which all of life's hurts are distorted."
17. Laugh a lot. It's still the best medicine.
18. Remember, "The bumps are what we climb on."
19. Fear not. At least 95 percent of the things we
fear
never happen. Trust God for the other five
percent.
20. Have faith and put God first with your time,
talents,
and tithe (money).

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to so
live. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Psalm 37:3-6 (NIV).

NOTE: "Tips for Better Living" is available on the
ACTS online store beautifully presented at:
http://tinyurl.com/tips4living.

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.


Today's Daily Encounter

How to Know If Prayers Are Answered

"You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you
ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, that you may spend what you get on your
pleasures."1

A Daily Encounter reader asks, "How can you know when
and if God has answered your prayers? Some in our
group feel it's only when something big happens--like
miracles in the Bible. Others feel that it's also when
prayers for little things are answered. For example,
recently I badly needed money for food and gas and
prayed that God would provide. Soon after I found $20.
I felt this was a direct answer to prayer. One friend
felt this was just a coincidence. So how can we know
for sure if and when God has answered our prayers?"

If I needed $20 and had been responsible with my
money, I wouldn't hesitate to ask God to provide for
my need. If I then found $20 and couldn't find who
lost it, I'd surely thank God for answering my prayer.
At times I have had immediate answers to prayer. At
other times it has taken longer … for some it has
taken several years. Some people say God answers our
prayers according to his timing. I think, however
(depending on the nature of the request), more often
than not it has more to do with our timing--that is,
when we are ready and able to handle the answer.

Sometimes we can only know for certain if God has
answered our prayers when we look back over time and
can see more clearly how God has led and provided.

A lot also depends on our attitude of mind. Most of us
believe what we want to believe; that is, what is the
most convenient for us to believe. If we want to
believe God answered our prayer when we saw the
evidence, we will believe. If we don't want to believe
(regardless of the evidence), we won't believe.

If we are truly committed to the Lord and pray in
faith, we can usually see when our prayers have been
answered. In fact God answers every sincere prayer
when prayed in faith. Keep in mind, however, sometimes
God's answer is yes … sometimes it is no … sometimes it
is wait a while … and sometimes it is that you are
praying the wrong prayer--a prayer with the wrong
motive or praying for deliverance from (or healing of)
a symptom without praying about the cause/s.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you hear
and answer every sincere prayer that comes from my
heart. Please help me to pray the right prayer with
the right motive--and help me to discern when and how
you answer my prayers. Thank you for hearing and
answering this prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."

See "How to Pray Effectively" at:
http://www.actsweb.org/articles/article.php?i=26&d=1&c=2&p=1.

1. James 4:2-3 (NIV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

New Year's Resolutions

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed
are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called
sons of God."1

Writing in The Age, a Melbourne, Australia newspaper,
John Weldon states that "the custom of making New
Year's resolutions 'has been observed since ancient
Babylonian times--when most of the resolutions
recorded concerned, not surprisingly considering that
culture's fascination with all things agricultural,
the returning of borrowed gardening tools.'"1

That's a great idea for a practical New Year's
resolution--returning things we've borrowed!

Because New Year's Day is the oldest special day of
the "Big Five: Mother's Day, birthdays, Christmas and
Easter," Weldon is amazed that some marketer hasn't
commercialized this day as it has the other four for
squeezing another buck out of unsuspecting customers.

Fortunately, New Year's day hasn't been commercialized
(yet) and while most New Year's resolutions don't last
longer than a day's journey to the next temptation, I
still think it is a good idea to make at least one
that you (with God's help) vigorously intend to keep
and then do something about making it
happen--providing it is a resolution of value.

Suggested prayer for the New Year:

"Dear Lord, Please give me …
A few friends who know me and love me still,
A thankful heart to give you praise always and in
everything,
A trusting mind to keep on believing in you no matter
what the future holds,
A humble, pleasing personality,
A teachable disposition,
A thoughtful, kind, and caring touch,
A forgiving and understanding spirit,
A loving and accepting attitude to communicate your
love to every life I touch,
A worthwhile work into which I can put my best efforts
and thereby help make my world a better place in which
to live, and
A life that will make a difference not only in my
world, but in my street and, most of all, in my home.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Matthew 5:6-9 (NIV).
2. John Weldon, "There's gold in those New Year's
resolutions," The Age, Melbourne, Australia, December
29, 2004, http://www.theage.com.au/.

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
The Church's Impact on the Family

"Let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the
habit of doing this. Instead, let us cheer each other
up with words of hope. Let us do it all the more as
you see the day coming when Christ will return."1

A study conducted some time ago by sociologist Steven
Nock of the University of Virginia showed that couples
who attend church regularly are 42 percent more likely
to be married for the first time, and those in the
church who were strongly committed to its beliefs had
a 23 percent better chance of having a "very happy"
marriage than those who don't go to church.

Furthermore, according to a report by Warren Mueller,
where both parents attend church regularly, 72 percent
of their children continue in the faith. Where only the
father attends, that percentage drops to 55 percent,
but where only the mother attends, just 15 percent of
the children remain involved in the church.

People then who have happy marriages and strong
families are those who are committed to making their
families strong. They work hard at communicating
effectively. They spend time together. They express
love and appreciation. They accept crises as normal
and know how to work through them, and above all they
trust in God and apply their faith to everyday living.

Need I say more?*

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to always
put you first in my life and live in harmony with your
will and what your Word teaches so that (whether
married or single) I will have a productive and
fulfilling family/friendship life. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV).
*Adapted from the article: "What a Good Church Can Do
for You" at
http://www.actsweb.org/articles/article.php?i=117&d=1&c=10&p=1

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com


Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Relational Living

"The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be
alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"1

It goes without saying that God created mankind for
relationships from which comes 80 percent of life's
satisfaction. To live meaningfully is to be in
meaningful relationships, without which life is lonely
and leaves us with an empty "love tank" or vacuum in
the heart.

If we don't know how to relate in healthy ways, we
don't know how to fully live and fully love. As a
result we can impair our mental and physical health.

God himself is in relationship through the Holy
Trinity and Jesus started the Christian movement with
relationships: "He [Jesus] appointed twelve … that
they might be with him"2 Christ's entire ministry was
done in relationship with his twelve disciples, apart
from his dying on the cross to bear the penalty for
our sins. This he had to do alone.

As a Christian, our first need is to maintain a right
relationship with God by confessing our sins, making
right our wrongs, and living in harmony with his will.
Trying to live the Christian life without this is like
trying to go east by traveling north.

We then need close, connected relationships with
people. Only then can we realize some of the deepest
longings of the human heart. The reality is that we
need people. Barbara Streisand sang it well: "People
who need people are the luckiest people in the world."
People who say otherwise are living in denial.

Furthermore, the degree of our mental health,
emotional maturity, and physical and spiritual
well-being will be reflected in the health or
otherwise of our closest relationships. God's command
to "love one another" is not a sentimental suggestion.
It's an imperative--not for God's sake but for ours.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to resolve
any and all impaired relationships I may have. Help me
also to live in harmony with your will so that I will
have healthy relationships with myself, others and
above all with you. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."

1. Genesis 2:18 (NIV).
2. Mark 3:14.

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
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Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
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interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
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Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

The Problem Is “Never" the Problem

"A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be
successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he
gets another chance."1

In teaching classes and counseling hurting people I
often remind them that the problem is never the
problem and the pain we feel is not the pain that is.
This usually takes a while to sink in.

In most difficulties and conflicts what we see is the
presenting problem which, more often than not, is the
symptom of a deeper problem or "the fruit of a deeper
root."

As someone else said, "When we have unresolved
problems/issues, God is merciful in that he gives us
symptoms." Relational conflicts, anxiety, insomnia,
depression, addictions, spiritual dryness, physical
ills, and any of a score of other symptoms can be
caused or greatly aggravated by unresolved guilt over
past unconfessed sins, a deeply buried resentment and
a failure to forgive someone from a past hurt,
unresolved grief from the loss of a love, or rebelling
against the will of God, etc., etc. The roots of some
of these issues can go all the way back to early
childhood. All need to be confronted and resolved if
we are to fully live and fully love, and maintain
sound physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual
well-being.

Furthermore, many of our physical symptoms can be
symbolic. Some ulcers, for example, are not caused so
much by what we eat but by what is eating us. Tension
headaches can be from jamming up anger in our head.
Aching shoulders may be caused by feeling under a
heavy load and so on. And if I have a pain in the
neck … I may be one, or have someone or some situation
in my life that I feel is a pain in the neck!

Tracing symptoms to their causes and resolving these
opens the door for healing and recovery. If we don't
connect to and resolve the original pain that is the
root cause of our symptoms, we will suffer the ongoing
pain of the symptoms. This is what I mean by saying,
"The pain we feel is not the pain that is."

After David confessed his sin, he said, "What
happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven!
What relief for those who have confessed their sins
and God has cleared their record. There was a time
when I wouldn't admit what a sinner I was. But my
dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with
frustration. All day and all night your hand was heavy
on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day
until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped
trying to hide them. I said to myself, 'I will confess
them to the Lord.' And you forgave me! All my guilt is
gone."2

David gives us an excellent example to follow.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, no matter what symptoms I
have in my life, if they are the fruit of a deeper
root, please give me the courage to see and confront
these. And please lead me to the help I need to
resolve them. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 28:13 (TLB)(NLT).
2. Psalm 32:1-5 (TLB)(NLT).

<)))><

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Copyright (c) 2012 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2012
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Vision

"Where there is no revelation [prophetic vision], the
people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps
the law [of God]."1

Some 350 or more years ago a shipload of travelers
landed on a distant land. The first year they
established a town site. The next year they elected a
town government. The third year the town government
planned to build a road five miles westward into the
wilderness.

In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their
town government because they thought it was a waste of
public funds to build a road five miles westward into a
wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway?

Here were people who had the vision to see three
thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great
hardships to get there. But in just a few years they
were not able to see even five miles out of town. They
had lost their pioneering vision and certainly had no
prophetic vision of what God's plan was for this
nation yet to be.

With a clear vision of what we can become and achieve
in Christ, no ocean of difficulty is too great. As
individuals, organizations, churches, and a nation
without a vision of what God wants us to be and do we
will eventually demise, "for without a vision the
people perish."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please open the eyes of
my understanding and give me a vision of what you are
doing in the world in which I live and see clearly how
I can be a part of your plans. Thank you for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."

1. Proverbs 29:18 (NKJV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

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Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
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and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
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Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Will Jesus Come Again?

"In my Father's home [heaven] there are many rooms; if
it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there
to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come back and take you to be
with me."1

At Christmas time--year after year--the world is
dramatically reminded that God sent his Son, Jesus, to
save lost mankind from his sin and its devastating
consequences of eternal damnation. Christmas is also a
good reminder that Jesus is coming back to earth for
all who have accepted him as their personal Savior.

There are many references in the Old Testament section
of the Bible that predicted Christ's first coming to
earth--an event that is an indisputable fact of
history. According to Bible scholars there are 318
references in the New Testament about Christ's second
coming to earth. And as every prediction in the Old
Testament regarding Christ's first coming was
fulfilled in minutest detail, we can be just as
certain that every prediction in the New Testament
regarding Christ's second coming will also be
fulfilled in minutest detail.

Jesus is coming again. God promised it in his Word,
the Bible. Jesus himself promised it as well. And all
the signs that Jesus and the Bible said would precede
his second coming are evident today, also reminding us
that Christ's return could be very soon. The important
question is: If Jesus were to come today, would you be
ready?

For help to make sure you are ready for Jesus Christ's
return, see the article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real
Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, how can I ever thank you
enough for your great Christmas love gift to me and to
the world. In appreciation for all you have done for
me, I surrender my heart and life afresh to you.
Please use me in whatever way you will to be a part of
your plan to spread the gospel to the world in which I
live and in some way to people around the world. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus' name, amen."

1. Jesus in John 14:2-3 (NIV).

<)))><

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When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
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Today's Daily Encounter
Missing the Point

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas

"The people of this generation … are like children
sitting in the market-place and calling out to each
other: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not
dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'"1

On a December day back in 1903 at Kitty Hawk in North
Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright, after numerous
failures to fly a heavier-than-air machine made
amazing history. They achieved something that no man
had ever done before. Ecstatic, they sent a telegram
to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 852
feet. Will be home for Christmas."

Overjoyed, Katherine ran down to the local newspaper
and pushed the telegram--the greatest news story of
the new century--into the hand of the editor. After
reading it he smiled and said, "Well, well! How nice
the boys will be home for Christmas."

I wonder how often we miss the point when God is doing
a work among us. The religious people of Christ's day
who were actually anticipating his coming as their
Messiah failed totally to recognize him--and
ironically had him crucified--because he didn't come
and didn't operate in the way that they expected.

And how tragic is it that so many people today are
also missing the whole point of Christmas? The point
being that on the birth of Christmas Jesus Christ, Son
of the Living God, clothing himself in an external
garment of human flesh, stepped out of the "ivory
palaces of heaven" to identify himself with lost
mankind and came to earth to die on a cruel Roman
cross to pay the penalty for your sins and mine so
that we could be freely forgiven by God for all our
sins and receive God's gift of eternal life.

There is no greater tragedy in all of life than to
miss out on God's gift of forgiveness and eternal
life.

Whatever you do, don't miss out on the meaning and
purpose of Christmas. Be sure to accept God's gift of
forgiveness and eternal life today. For help read the
article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian"
online at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me understand
the true meaning and purpose of Christmas and be sure
that I have been forgiven and have received your gift
of eternal life and thereby know that I know that I
know that I am a true Christian and follower of Jesus
Christ. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Jesus in Luke 7:32 (NIV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
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and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
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Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
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Today's Daily Encounter
Down From His Glory Part I

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields
nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of
the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring
you good news of great joy that will be for all the
people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been
born to you; he is Christ the Lord.'"1

Henry Carter was working feverishly trying to prepare
something fresh for his Christmas sermon when he was
disturbed by a knock on his study door. It was the
dorm mother of the church's home for disturbed
children. There was a crisis upstairs with one of the
boys. Most of the boys go home for Christmas and only
a few were left behind and were feeling very much
abandoned and unloved.

Henry reluctantly followed the dorm mother up the
stairs to the small dormitory chafing inwardly at yet
another interruption. This time it was Tommy. He had
crawled under his bed and refused to come out. The
woman pointed to one of the beds. Not even a toe
showed so Henry addressed the cowboys and bucking
broncos on the bedspread. He told them of the
beautifully decorated Christmas tree with all the
presents in the church next door … and how there was a
special present for Tommy.

Tommy was not impressed and continued to "play dead."

Henry's frustration increased as he knelt down on all
fours and lifted the bedspread. As he peered under the
bed his eyes met two enormous blue eyes expressing the
fear and pain Tommy was experiencing. Henry could have
easily pulled the little
eight-year-old-looking-like-a-five-year-old child from
under the bed, but he knew that this wouldn't help. It
was trust, not coercion, that Tommy needed--plus he
needed to make the decision to come out by himself. So
Henry tried as best he could to get Tommy excited about
the special Christmas supper to be offered after the
service, the wonderful presents, and the stocking
filled with magnificent Christmas gifts with Tommy's
name on it.

All to no avail.

So … what else could Henry do? He got down on his
stomach and wriggled himself under the bed to lay with
his cheek pressed into the floor beside Tommy. Not a
word he said seemed to have any effect. Not being able
to think of anything else to say, Henry just laid there
in silence beside Tommy. It seemed like such a long
time but as Henry patiently waited, in time a small,
cold hand crept into his.

After a while Henry said, "You know, Tommy, it's
pretty uncomfortable under here. Let's you and me go
where we can stand up."

Ever so slowly they did.

Henry had no more worries about finding a Christmas
message.2

To be concluded in tomorrow's edition of Daily
Encounter.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the marvel
of the Christmas story. Please help me to fully
understand why Jesus came to earth as a baby and then
some 33 years later died on a Roman cross to save
mankind from our sin. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."

1. Luke 2:8-11 (NIV).
2. Adapted from "Take Hold of Love," by Henry Carter,
pp 29-30, The New Guideposts Christmas Treasury.
Copyright 1998, Guideposts, Carmel, New York,
10512.

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
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Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
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please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

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Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
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Today's Daily Encounter
Down From His Glory Part II

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and
shall call His name Immanuel [literally
God-With-Us]."1

In following through on our story of yesterday about
Tommy, the child who felt unloved and abandoned, we
are graphically reminded of what God did for us at
Christmas 2000 years ago.

While not abandoned by God, our sinfulness cut us off
from him and we were left lost in a world of sin and
darkness, doomed for an eternal hell--whatever and
wherever that may be--to be forever separated, not
only from God, but also from all that is good and all
that is loving.

However, in his loving mercy, Jesus Christ the eternal
Son of God, laid aside his external robes of deity and,
clothing himself in a garment of human flesh, stepped
out of the Ivory Palaces of Heaven, and came to earth
so he could identify with mankind and save us from our
despair and eternal lost-ness.

Unfortunately so many don't realize the terrible
plight we are in without God. Many reason that if God
is a God of love, how could he ever send anyone to
hell? It's imperative for us to understand that
because God is a God of absolute holiness no sin or
sinner can ever exist in his presence. It's also
important to remember that it isn't God who sends us
to hell. If we reject his mercy and his pardon, we
send ourselves there.

Furthermore, because God is absolutely just, all sin
must be judged--and that judgment is eternal death,
which is eternal separation from a holy and just God.
Fortunately, however, God is also a God of absolute
love and because he loved us, he sent his Son, Jesus,
to pay the penalty for our sin, the penalty that God's
own justice demanded.

You may not be aware of it but Jesus is calling you to
respond to his love and mercy. He has the gift of
forgiveness for all your wrongdoing and sinful acts
and, with his forgiveness, the gift of eternal life.
And like the boy in Part I, God has been hiding in the
shadows with you, patiently waiting for you to reach
out and put your hand in his so he can lead you out of
your lost-ness into his eternal life.

Why not answer God's call today? You can do so by
praying a simple prayer such as the following:

"Dear God, how can I ever thank you enough for loving
me so much that you sent your Son, Jesus, to come to
earth on that first Christmas. I admit and confess
that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the wrongs
that I have done. I believe that Jesus died on the
cross for my sins. Please forgive me. And I invite
you, Jesus, to come into my heart and life as Lord and
Savior. I commit and trust my life to you. Please give
me the desire to be what you want me to be and to do
what you want me to do. Thank you for dying for my
sins, for your free pardon, for your gift of eternal
life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen."

If you prayed this prayer, please click on (or copy
and paste into your browser):
www.actsweb.org/decision.php, and fill in the response
form and we will send you a free copy of the
e-Brochure, "How to Grow" to help you in your new
Christian life. We will also send you the web address
for the free "Ten Steps to Christian Growth."

In the words of the songwriter, William E.
Booth-Clibborn:

Down from His glory, ever living story,
My God and Savior came, and Jesus was His name;
Born in a manger to His own a stranger,
A man of sorrows, tears and agony!
Oh how I love Him! How I adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!
The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him!

1. Isaiah 7:14 ( NKJV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com
Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
A Touching Christmas Story

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the
Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness
with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord,
who is the Spirit."1

"The Doll and a White Rose" by V.A. Bailey

I hurried into the local department store to grab some
last minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people
and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and
I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to
become such a drag. I kind of wished that I could just
sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could
through all the people to the toy department. Once
again I mumbled to myself at the prices of all these
toys, and wondered if the grandchildren would even
play with them.

I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of
my eye I saw a little boy about 5 holding a lovely
doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her so
gently. I couldn't seem to help myself. I just kept
looking over at the little boy and wondered who the
doll was for.

I watched him turn to a woman and he called his aunt
by name and said, "Are you sure I don't have enough
money." She replied a bit impatiently, "You know that
you don't have enough money for it. The aunt told the
little boy not to go anywhere because she had to go
get some other things and would be back in a few
minutes. And then she left the aisle.

The boy continued to hold the doll. After a bit I
asked the boy who the doll was for. He said, "It is
the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She
just knew that Santa would bring it." I told him that
maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said "No, Santa
can't go where my sister is, I have to give the doll
to my Momma to take to her."

I asked him where his sister was. He looked at me with
the saddest eyes and said, "She has gone to be with
Jesus. My Daddy says that Momma is going to have to go
be with her."

My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked
at me again and said, "I told my Daddy to tell Momma
not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I
got back from the store." Then he asked me if I wanted
to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He
pulled out some pictures he'd had taken at the front
of the store. He said, "I want my Momma to take this
with her so she doesn't ever forget me. I love my
Momma so very much and I wish she did not have to
leave me. But Daddy says she will need to be with my
sister."

I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had
grown so very quiet. While he was not looking, I
reached into my purse and pulled out a hand-full of
bills. I asked the little boy, "Shall we count that
money one more time?"

He grew excited and said, "Yes, I just know it has to
be enough" So I slipped my money in with his and we
began to count it. And of course it was plenty for the
doll. He softly said, "Thank you Jesus for giving me
enough money."

Then the boy said, "I just asked Jesus to give me
enough money to buy this doll so Momma can take it
with her to give to my sister. And he heard my prayer.
I wanted to ask him for enough to buy my Momma a white
rose, but I didn't ask him, but he gave me enough to
buy the doll and a rose for my Momma. She loves white
roses so very, very much."

In a few minutes the aunt came back and I wheeled my
cart away. I couldn't keep from thinking about the
little boy as I finished my shopping in a totally
different spirit than when I had started. And I kept
remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper
several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a
car and killing a little girl and the mother was in
serious condition. The family was deciding on removal
of the life support. Now surely this little boy did
not belong with that story.

Two days later I read in the paper where the family
had disconnected the life support and the young woman
had died. I couldn't forget the little boy and just
kept wondering if the two were somehow connected.
Later that day, I couldn't help myself and I went out
and bought some white roses and took them to the
funeral home where the young woman was. And there she
was holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll,
and the picture of the little boy in the store.

I left there in tears, my life changed forever. The
love that little boy had for his little sister and his
mother was overwhelming. In a split second a drunk
driver had ripped the life of that little boy to
pieces.2

Please don't drink and drive this holiday season nor
throughout the coming year.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to always
be sensitive to the needs of others around me and,
where needed, help me to reach and be as Jesus to them
as the lady in today's lesson reached out to the
heart-broken little boy. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."

1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV).
2. "The Doll and a White Rose" by V.A. Bailey. Source
Unknown.

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
A Little Child Shall Lead Them

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and
do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs
to such as these.'"1

Joy, my wife, wrote how, "For several years our family
vacationed every year at Christmas time in Mexico. We
always took individually wrapped candy canes to give
to the local children. One Christmas morning I had
taken the bus to attend a Christmas church service.
After the service, while waiting for the bus to
arrive, I saw a very poor looking, unkempt little girl
and greeted her saying, 'Felice Navidad' (Merry
Christmas) and gave her a candy cane.

"A few minutes later, I felt someone tugging on my
skirt and turned to see this same little girl smiling
as she handed me a walnut! My first thought was, 'I
can't accept this walnut from her as it may be all she
had received for Christmas.' However, I thought of the
true meaning of Christmas giving so accepted her
valuable gift. I got back to the beach where my family
member were and was so deeply touched by this poor
little girl's precious gift, I cried. I still have the
walnut and every year tell the story now to my
grandchildren--and we still cry.

"I treasure this gift from a poor little girl who gave
me all she had out of the abundance of her loving
heart."

At this Christmas season we are again reminded that
Jesus gave his very all that we might be forgiven of
all our sins and given the gift of eternal life--the
greatest Christmas gift anyone could ever receive.

Jesus has this gift of forgiveness and eternal life
for you, too, dear reader, so if you haven't accepted
it, be sure to do so at this Christmas season. For
help, be sure to read "How to Be Sure You're a
Christian" at: http://www.actsweb.org/christian.

And may you and I, like the little Mexican girl Joy
wrote about, always give out of the abundance of a
loving and grateful heart.

Suggested Prayer; "Dear God, thank you that you gave
out of the abundance of your loving heart the greatest
love gift in all the world--the gift of your Son,
Jesus, to come to earth as a baby to live and die for
my sins so that I could be given the gift of
forgiveness and eternal life. And thank you, Jesus,
for all you have done for me. Because you died for me,
help me to live for you and always give to you and
others out of a loving, grateful heart. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. Matthew 19:14 (NIV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Tyranny of the Ought

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits to see whether they are from God."1

In much younger days as a young Christian I wanted to
do the right thing and while I am tremendously
thankful to my parents for bringing me up in a church
where I heard God's message of salvation, our church
did have a few legalistic tendencies. One of which was
that we were made to feel guilty if we weren't
regularly "witnessing" for the Lord. That meant we
were supposed to be always telling someone about Jesus
and how they could get saved. The idea was fine, but
the methods and motives were awful.

I did my best to be a good witness but as I look back,
most of those bumbling attempts at witnessing probably
did more to drive people away from the Lord than to
draw them to him. At those times I was so scared and
uptight that if someone would have stuck a pin in me
(graphically speaking), I probably would have burst.

There were a few other "shoulds" too. It was like this
little voice inside my head saying, "You have to do
this … you have to do that. You mustn't do this. You
mustn't do that," and so on. I used to think this
voice was God telling me what I should or shouldn't be
doing. In fact, if the little voice in my head would
have told me to stand on my head, I probably would
have done it--at least where nobody would have seen
me!

Fortunately, I was also taught to "test the spirits"
which I did and discovered that this little voice
inside my head was a compulsion from within, rather
than a conviction from without; that is, it wasn't
from God. It can be difficult to discern the
difference between a compulsion and a conviction, but
simply put, a compulsion is where one feels
relentlessly driven while a conviction is where one
feels more a gentle drawing. With a compulsion the
little voice in your head drives you nuts until you do
what it tells you to do. With a conviction that comes
from God, there is always a sense of freedom because
"where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty."
One is always free to say, "No."

Just because a little voice inside your head "speaks"
to you is no guarantee that it is from God or from
God's Spirit. If this "voice" is continually plaguing
you, it may be OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
which may need professional help and medication to
bring it under control. It could be associated with
one's need to be a people pleaser in order to feel
loved by one's leaders and/or peers (I'm pretty sure
this was a part of my problem). It could also come
from one's need to get attention from one's peers and
feel important because "God speaks to me." Or it could
be from the evil one who knows he can't pull us down
into a life of sin and degradation, so he seeks to
"push us over the top so we become so heavenly minded
we are of no earthly use."

I'm not saying that God doesn't "speak" to us or that
God's Spirit doesn't lead us. Not at all. But we need
a discerning spirit to know the true source of these
inner "voices" or convictions whether they are from
God, the evil one, or from our own neurotic
tendencies. It begins by learning to pray the right
prayer such as the following:

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a
discerning spirit so that when I hear an 'inner voice'
I will know whether it is from you, the enemy, or from
my own self. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 John 4:1 (NIV).

NOTE: See also the Daily Encounter on "Arm-Twisting
for God" at: http://www.actsweb.org/daily.php?id=141

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com


Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Predestination vs. Free Will

"For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the
gift of God which is in you through the laying on of
my hands."1

Somebody said, "The difference between predestination
and free will is: "Predestination is the hand you were
dealt; free will is what you do with that hand." Good
point.

While we weren't responsible for, nor did we have any
choice in what gifts and abilities we were born with,
we are totally responsible for what we do about
discovering and developing these gifts and talents and
for how we use them.

Furthermore, regardless of our background, which I
acknowledge has a profound effect on us, with God's
help and the support of encouraging friends, we can
refuse to allow our past to determine our future and
we can overcome much of our past, develop our talents,
and become the person God wants us to be and do what we
believe He wants us to do with our life.

It all boils down to choice. Either by conscious
choice or by default we all choose what we want to
become and do what we choose to do. As another has
said, "Everyone is self-made, even if the rich are the
only ones who will admit it."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to
discover what my gifts and talents are--both spiritual
and natural--and develop them, and find a productive
way to use them for the benefit of others and for your
glory. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 2 Timothy 1:6 (NASB).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com


Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
The Power of a Creed

"He [God] has shown you, O man, what is good. And what
does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love
mercy and to walk humbly with your God."1

Creeds are principles by which to live. If we want to
live worthwhile and purposeful lives, it pays to
choose and believe in a worthwhile and purposeful
creed. Many have been written by others. A well
thought-out one was written by John D. Rockefeller,
Jr. It is as follows:

"I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and
in his right to life, liberty, and pursuit of
happiness.

"I believe that every right implies a responsibility;
every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a
duty.

"I believe that the law was made for man and not man
for the law; that government is the servant of the
people and not their master.

"I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head
or hand; that the world owes no man a living, but that
it owes every man an opportunity to make a living.

"I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered
living and that economy is a prime requisite of a
sound financial structure, whether in government,
business, or personal affairs.

"I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to
an enduring social order.

"I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a
man's word should be as good as his bond; that
character--not wealth or power or position--is of
supreme worth.

"I believe that the rendering of useful service is the
common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying
fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed
and the greatness of the human soul set free.

"I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God … and
that the individual's highest fulfillment, greatest
happiness, and widest usefulness are to be found in
living in harmony with His will.

"I believe that love is the greatest thing in the
world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can
and will triumph over might."

We would all do well to read this creed often and
practice it all year long.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to live
according to a sound creed, the principles of which
are all in harmony with your Word and your will. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus' name, amen."

1. Micah 6:8 (NIV).

<)))><

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2011
ACTS International.