Daily Encounter with: ACTS International

Today's Daily Encounter
Give Me a Thankful Heart
"Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted
above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD.
You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all
their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the
seas and all that is in them. You give life to
everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
You are the LORD God."1
How easy it is to take God's blessings and provisions
for granted. I've lived in Southern California for
several years and have experienced earthquakes which
shook the good old terra firma I was standing on. I've
seen the results of ravaging fires that destroyed
scores of homes, riots that destroyed scores of
properties, and floods and mud slides that also caused
great losses.
Southern California is little more than converted
desert and what amazes me is where all the water comes
from to meet the needs of some twenty-plus million
people! I've lived through several years of drought
and still there was enough water. Most of the water
comes from the most marvelous water storage system
ever created, and it's not just from the many man-made
dams and reservoirs, as wonderful and as necessary as
these are. It's from the snow that stores water for
many months of the year and releases it basically as
it is needed. If it weren't for the magnificent
mountains and the amazing supply of snow, Southern
California would still be little more than a desert.
It also amazes me how so many people complain about
rainy days when we get good rains in such a dry and
thirsty land--rains that fill up the rivers, dams, and
reservoirs and store billions of gallons of water in
the form of snow over thousands of square miles of
rugged mountains--rains that keep us alive!
All God has to do is turn off the sky's faucet or blot
out the sun for long enough and every living thing
would die.
As the Levites said, truly God gives life to
everything.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for all the
incredible blessings you provide for all of us all of
the time. May I be ever mindful of these and thankful
for them. Help me to always have a grateful heart and
live in an attitude of gratitude. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."
Note:If you have never accepted God’s greatest
blessing ever, please read thearticle, “How to Be Sure
You’re a Real Christian" at:
http://www.actsweb.org/christian.And be sure to accept
God’s forgiveness and his gift of eternal life.
1. Nehemiah 9:5-7 (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.

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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
I Needed the Quiet
"Blessed be ... the God of all comfort, who comforts
us in all our troubles, so we can comfort those in any
trouble with the comfort we have received from God."1
Some time ago when I was going through a time of loss
and sorrow, a friend wrote to me saying, "You sent the
following poem to me a long time ago when I was in the
hospital. I've treasured and kept it in my Bible ever
since. I thought you might appreciate it now."
If you are going through a time of sickness or sorrow,
I'd like to pass it on to you, too.
I needed the quiet so he drew me aside
Into the shadows where we could confide,
Away from the bustle where all the day long
I hurried and worried when active and strong.
I needed the quiet tho at first I rebelled,
But gently, so gently my cross he upheld,
And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things,
Tho weakened in body, my spirit took wings
To heights never heard of when active and bright,
He loved me so greatly he drew me away.
I needed the quiet, no prison my bed,
But a beautiful valley of blessings instead --
A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide
I needed the quiet so he drew me aside.
- Alice H.
Mortenson
And so, my friend, if you are going through a time of
loss or sickness, I trust this message will also speak
to your heart.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to always learn
what you are seeking to teach me in every trial I
face, so that I will not only have my life enriched,
but also to be used by you to comfort and enrich the
lives of others who are facing trials. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."
1. 2 Corinthians 2:3-4 (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
Where Has All the Security Gone?
"'I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of
Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your
forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and
have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to
you,' says the LORD Almighty."1
The sun set last night and rose again this morning as
it has for thousands or millions of years. While some
things never change, we can't say that about life in
the last few decades--not to mention what lies ahead
in the coming years!
I read that if we were to put the entire world's
knowledge from the beginning of time until 1845 on a
graph it would measure only one inch tall. From 1845
to 1945--just 100 years--the graph would measure three
inches tall. But from 1945 until today the graph would
be as tall as [or much taller than] the Washington
monument in Washington, DC.
Change today is the order of the day. It has been said
that today's average worker will need to be retrained
at least three times during his working career to keep
up with all the changes. Changes in technology,
lifestyle, philosophy, morals, etc., are happening so
fast it is difficult to keep up with them all.
Furthermore, the security that so many of us knew in
earlier times has pretty much vanished. With
escalating terrorism worldwide, unless we have an
anchor for the soul, we can be left drifting on a
restless changing sea of uncertainty. But for those
who have faith in God, of this one thing we can be
absolutely sure: He never changes! His love is from
everlasting to everlasting and he is still in control
of the world and universe no matter what. As the Bible
says, "I the Lord do not change."2
Americans have engraved on their coins, "In God we
trust." But until that commitment is engraved on
people's hearts and we genuinely trust in the God who
changes not, we will have no lasting security.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help us as a
nation to come to the realization that blessed is the
nation whose God is the Lord, and that without our
trust in you, there is no security. And please start
your work in my heart. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."
1. Malachi 3:6-7 (NIV).
2. See Psalm 15:4 (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
Be Prepared
"Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store
up their food in the summer."1
Sometimes the seemingly simple things in life can
teach us some of the most important lessons. Take
ants, for example. Even though their "brain" (central
ganglion or nerve) is less than one-tenth the size of
a pinhead, ants live in highly organized social
colonies. Some collect food, others build the nest and
keep it clean, and some look after the queen ants.
Nurse ants clean and feed the larvae. Soldier ants
guard and protect the food-collecting ants. No wonder
the Bible says, "Go to the ant ... consider her ways
and be wise."2
Among other lessons, the ants "who store up their food
in the summer" teach us the importance of being
prepared ahead of time for whatever might come our
way. The Chinese proverb, "Dig your well before you're
thirsty" makes the same point. Children need to be
prepared for life, teenagers and young adults need to
be prepared for entering the work force, and for
taking care of themselves. Those who are planning to
be married need to prepare in advance for it;
unfortunately, too many don't. And all adults need to
prepare ahead for retirement and old age.
Most important of all, we need to prepare for life
after life when we will meet our Maker face to face.
As God's Word says, "Prepare to meet your God,"3 and
as Jesus taught about his return to earth, "Be ready;
for when you least expect it, I will come."4 How
tragic beyond all measure for those who aren't
prepared for life after death or that day when Jesus
returns for all his true followers.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to trust
in you and, in so doing, always be prepared for
whatever lies ahead--especially for life after death
and for the day of your return. Thank you for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."
NOTE: To make sure you are prepared for life after
death and/or for the day of Christ's return, read the
article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at:
www.actsweb.org/christian.
1. Proverbs 30:25 (NIV).
2. Proverbs 6:6
3. See Amos 4:12
4. See Matthew 24:44
<)))><

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
Fat Airplane

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great
cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let
us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."1

I remember reading about an airplane used by
missionaries that gained two-hundred extra pounds in
weight since it was manufactured sixteen years
previously. Nobody knows where the extra weight came
from.

"We've been joking about the only plane in Weight
Watchers," said the pilot. "But it's really a serious
matter. Unless we can shed the extra weight, the
plane's utility is seriously limited. We just can't
carry an extra two-hundred pounds and have space for
the cargo we need to deliver."

Many of us, like the missionaries' airplane, are
carrying extra weight that can stop us from being
fully functional and fully alive. For some, the extra
weight may be physical, which can lead to ill health.
For others, it may be unresolved emotional or
spiritual issues. For example, if I am carrying an
overload of guilt, fear, grief, hurt, anger, or
resentment, or have some unconfessed sin or unresolved
addiction in my life. Any of these can keep me bogged
down and hinder my being fully productive.

God is not out to clobber us because of these things,
but he wants us--with his help and that of supportive
friends--to resolve and overcome our issues so that we
can get rid of the weight that holds us back and
thereby free us to "run with patience the race set
before us" and win!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to find
and trim the "fat" in my life--those things that so
easily beset me and keep me from becoming and doing
all that you have envisioned for me to be and do.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Hebrews 12:1 (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.

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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
Faith Vs. Presumption

"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can
say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it
will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."1

I remember reading years ago in Reader's Digest about
a company who glued a mustard seed to a brochure that
was advertising the product they were manufacturing.
Beneath the mustard seed they had words to the effect
that: "If you have faith as much as a grain of mustard
seed in our product, it will produce profound results
for you."

Some months later a customer wrote back to the company
saying, "You will be interested to know that I planted
your mustard seed and it has already grown into a very
robust plant bearing healthy tomatoes!"

There's a fine line between faith and presumption. We
all have "mountains" in our lives that can only be
removed by strong faith and a lot of hard work. Your
"mountain" may be a bad habit, unresolved resentment,
an addiction, or a toxic person in your life who is
destroying you. We know it is God's will for us to
deal with and overcome our "mountains" whatever they
might be.

Sometimes, however, we want to do something for our
own ends, and to justify it we say it is God's will,
or God is leading me, or God told me to do such and
such. When we do this, it is not faith but
presumption.

True, we need faith to do what God wants us to do, but
we need to be certain that our faith is in the right
seed!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me always to
be real, to examine my motives and discern the
difference between faith and presumption, and please
deliver me from the sin of self-centered presumption.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Matthew 17:20 (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
Earning the Right to Criticize

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words,
and slander, as well as all types of malicious
behavior."1
Dwight L. Moody, the famous evangelist, was once told
by an irate church lady, "Mr. Moody, I don't like the
way you do your evangelism."
In reply, Mr. Moody said, "I don't necessarily like
all of it either, but it's the best way I know how.
Tell me, how do you do it?"
"Oh, I don't," was the reply.
"Well," said Moody, "I like the way I'm doing it
better than the way you're not doing it."
It's always easy to know what to do when we don't have
to do the job, and very easy to criticize others when
we're not doing the work ourselves.
Some time ago when I was a member of a large group and
things weren't going too well, I was asked what I
thought about the situation and what could be done to
improve things. I said I didn't feel I had the right
to criticize unless I was prepared to do something
about it. I was, however, prepared to help, and with
several of us working together things greatly
improved.
In this instance as in most other instances, criticism
without offering help would have only made matters
worse and caused greater dissension among group
members--something that happens to be detestable to
God! So, if we're not willing to put our shoulder to
the wheel and help, let's not stir up dissension
through negative criticism.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be
positive in all that I say and do and not have a
negative, critical attitude when I am not prepared to
do anything to bring about creative and helpful
change. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Ephesians 4:31 (NLT)
<)))><

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.

Published by:
ACTS International
© Copyright 1998-2011 by ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673
U.S.A.
On Israel, Palestine and the U.S. Government

Unprecedented Rebuke of Israel by a U.S. President
Thursday, May 19, 2011, as reported by the American Center for Law and Justice, "President Obama delivered an unprecedented rebuke of the Israeli people by an American president. In words that were designed to reach more Muslim citizens than United States citizens, Obama called Israel's legitimate West Bank settlements an 'occupation'; and by calling for a return to the 1967 borders, he is calling for a divided Jerusalem. He continued to press Israel to negotiate with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and, subsequently, with the 'Unity Government' the PA has formed with the terrorist group, Hamas."
Is Israel Still the Promised Land—promised by God to Israel in Perpetuity?
There is a doctrine today called "Replacement Theology" that states that the nation of Israel is no longer God's chosen people; that Israel has been replaced by the Christian Church. If this is true, how do you explain the miraculous re-birth of the nation of Israel after some 1,900 years—and it's survival against overwhelming odds?
As God's Word promised the nation of Israel: "I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine" (Amos 9:14 NLT). Israel has been back in their land as a nation since 1948—the land promised to them by God.
As the Apostle Paul wrote in the New Testament, "I ask then, 'Did God reject his people [Israel]? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham ... God did not reject his people.... [for] God's gifts and his call are irrevocable'" (Romans 11:1-2; 29 NIV).
While the nation of Israel rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah, God has not done away with his chosen people. As God's Word also says, "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of Gentiles [non-Jews] has come in. And so all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:25-26, NIV).
A Warning: God also promised the nation of Israel: "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse..." (Genesis 12:3, NIV).
Let the U.S. and all nations awake as this is a warning to all who oppose God's chosen people, the Israelites—including some of America's leaders and citizens.
What About the Arab—Israeli Conflict?
1. Nationhood and Jerusalem: Israel became a nation in 1312 BC, two thousand (2,000) years before the rise of Islam.
2. Arab refugees in Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.
3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 BC, the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand (1,000) years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.
4. The only Arab dominion since the conquest in 635 lasted no more than 22 years.
5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders did not come to visit.
6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned even once in the Koran.
7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem.
8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem.
9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: in 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left (many in fear of retaliation by their own brethren, the Arabs), without ever seeing an Israeli soldier. The ones who stayed were afforded the same peace, civility, and citizenship rights as everyone else.
10. The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.
11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same.
12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab lands to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own people's lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel, a country no larger than the state of New Jersey.
13. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: the Arabs are represented by eight separate nations, not including the Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation. The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.
14. The PLO's Charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Israel has given the Palestinians most of the West Bank land, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them.
15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.
16. The UN Record on Israel and the Arabs: Of the 175 Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel.
17. Of the 690 General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel.
18. The UN was silent while 58 Jerusalem synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.
19. The UN was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.
20. The UN was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.1
1. Footnote: Reported having been written by a Christian professor. Submitted by Al Rowley.
Ed. NOTE: I doubt if there will ever be a "lasting" peace in this part of the world until the "Prince of Peace" – Jesus Christ, comes again. And he is coming again!
PLEASE pray for Israel and forward this message to as many Christian friends that you know ... this message needs to be read by as many Christians as possible.


IMPORTANT: For further evidence of Israel still being the Promised Land, Click o see the article:
Jerusalem: City of God
HERE
http://www.actsweb.org/articles/article.php?i=183&d=1&c=1&p=1t

Today's Daily Encounter
God's Chosen
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God;
trust also in me. In my Father's house 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 that you also may be where I am."1
Mike Barnicle, a former columnist for the Boston Globe
and more recently with the New York Daily News, tells
about a baby born to Mary Teresa Hickey and her
husband in 1945. The parents came from Cork, Ireland.
The baby was a Down's Syndrome boy. Mary Teresa held
the baby tightly, saying, "He's ours and we love him.
He is God's chosen one."
The family lived in the Dorchester section of Boston.
Their other boy was Jimmy. The dad died young of a
heart attack, and Mary was left to raise the two boys,
nine-year-old Jimmy and seven-year-old Danny. To pay
the rent she scrubbed floors at a chronic care
hospital.
Jimmy took good care of Danny. Dan felt at home with
all the kids because no one told him he was different.
Then one day, as they were boarding a trackless
trolley, some strange kids shouted, "No morons on the
bus!" That was the day Jimmy Hickey learned to fight.
It was also the day Jimmy decided to be a priest.
Little Danny attended the Kennedy school in Brighton
and eventually obtained a job.
In 1991, Mary Teresa Hickey died at age ninety-one
after showering her sons with unyielding love all
their lives. Father Jim Hickey had been a priest for
thirty years. In every parish to which he was
assigned, Danny went along with him. The people were
favored with both men.
In October 1997, Danny was in the hospital. His
fifty-two-year-old body was failing. One night when
ordinary people were eating supper, watching a ball
game or going to a movie, a simple story of brotherly
love played itself out at the bedside of a man who
never felt sorry for himself or thought he was
different.
Father Jim held his brother and asked, "Do you trust
me, Danny?"
"I trust you."
"You're going to be OK."
"I be OK."
Eight hundred people stood in line at his wake.
Parishioners packed the church for his funeral. They
sang and cried and prayed. Later that day, Daniel
Jeremiah Hickey was gently laid beside his parents at
New Calvary cemetery. The granite headstone bore his
name and the inscription: "God's Chosen."2
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your
promise that you are preparing a place in Heaven for
all who have accepted you as their Lord and Savior and
have put their trust in you. All of these are your
chosen ones too. Thank you for this blessed hope
knowing that when our time on earth is over, we will
go to be with you in Heaven and live with you forever.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
NOTE: To discover how you can be a chosen one of God,
be sure to read the article, "How to Be Sure You're a
Real Christian" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.
1. Jesus in John 14:1-3 (NIV)
2. Reverend Dr. Gary Nicolosi, Sermon: "God's Chosen."

<)))><

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.

* * * * * * *

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
Devious Devices
"For we are not ignorant of his [Satan's] devices."1
Satan, our arch enemy, is the father of lies--a liar
from the beginning. His most effective device is to
keep us in denial--to keep us from seeing the truth
about God, ourselves, the plan of salvation, and above
all, about himself and the nature and effects of sin.
To give us a clearer picture and understanding of sin
the Bible uses three different words or attributes to
describe sin's various facets.
First, transgression--which means to rebel against
and/or ignore God's laws, to make up our own rules,
and go our own sinful way.
Second, iniquity--which is the expression of our
sinful nature. For instance, a person is not a sinner
because he sins, but rather, he sins because he is a
sinner.
Third, missing the mark. As the Bible teaches, "For
all have sinned and fall short of the glory [standard]
of God."2 God's mark is perfection which means
completeness, wholeness, and maturity. Therefore,
anything in my life that falls short of these is sin.
This would include failing to face and resolve hurts
from the past, my secret sins, sins of resentment,
pride, anger, bitterness, denial, my failing to
resolve my areas of immaturity, and so on. It also
includes sins of omission; that is failing to do
things we know that we should and need to do, such has
helping a neighbor who reaches out to me for help.
Once we understand the nature of sin and Satan's
devices, with deep honesty and God's help, we are free
to work on overcoming the sins and problems that so
easily beset us.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the
courage to face my total 'dark side' and every secret
and known sin so I can bring these areas of my life to
you for your healing and recovery. And please help me
to always live in harmony with your Word and your
will. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV)
2. Romans 3:23
<)))><

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
Approval Vs. Affirmation
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have
drawn you with loving kindness."1
As a youth I never felt fully loved. For many years I
substituted approval for love. I got lots of approval
for the many good things I did and, yes, it felt good
at the time, but it never satisfied or lasted. Why?
Approval is based on what we do. Affirmation is based
on who we are. Approval is a good thing when given and
received for the right reasons, but when substituted
for love, it can become another addiction to avoid
facing the pain of not feeling loved.
Many of us codependents suffer from this affliction.
We only feel good when we feel needed. But deep down
what we really need is to feel loved and affirmed at
the core of our being--for who we are and not for what
we do. Most of all, we need to experience love and
affirmation from God the heavenly Father. Only when we
feel so affirmed, can we get off the merry-go-round of
doing things to get approval.
And how do we experience God the Father's love and
affirmation at the core of our being? First, by
believing that God loves us because his Word says so.
And second, by sharing my total self (including my
dark side) with one or two safe and trusted friends
who will love and accept me just as I am--warts and
all. As they love and accept me in this way, little by
little, I come to love and accept myself, and in so
doing, I open myself to accepting God the Father's
love and acceptance through them.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to believe, know,
and experience your love for me in the core of my
being. Help me to find a trusted friend who reflects
your unconditional love and with whom I can share my
total self, 'warts and all,' and experience your love
through them. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
For further help, see articles on "Recovery: Healing
the Wounds That Bind Us," online at:
http://www.actsweb.org/articles/Recovery.php.
1. Jeremiah 31:3 (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) 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
Acting Out
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has …
sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners,
recovery of sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed"1.
Fred is an alcoholic. Betsy is a drug addict. Bernard
is a sexaholic. What causes Fred, Betsy and Bernard to
act out this way?
Certainly we all have a bent towards sinning because
we happen to have a sinful nature. However, in
addition we act out in destructive ways because we
have been further damaged emotionally (mostly in
childhood) through rejection, emotional abandonment,
controlling love, and many other ways--the bottom line
of which is love deprivation. As a result, we are left
in pain, feeling angry, resentful, hurt, fearful,
guilty, shame-based, insecure, and so on.
It's the unresolved pain that drives us to act out. We
do it to medicate or anesthetize our inner pain and
emptiness. One reason an alcoholic drinks, for
example, is to deaden the pain of his/her loneliness,
hurt or anger, and to avoid facing these painful
feelings. The food addict is seeking to fill the empty
hole in his/her heart caused by love deprivation. The
workaholic keeps forever busy/active to avoid feeling
the pain of feeling unloved. The sex addict is not a
highly sexual person, but one who uses sex to avoid
facing the fact that he/she doesn't feel loved and is
looking for love in all the wrong places.
The beginning cure for overcoming these problems is to
feel and face one's inner pain and allow it to drive us
into recovery. The destructive acting-out ways are
symptoms of unresolved inner problems. Among other
things, God wants to heal us of emotional blindness so
we can see the truth and be healed within--to heal us
from the inside out. If we treat only the
symptoms--our acting out--this will only lead to
increased problems farther down the road.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to see and face
every problem I have, deal with it and resolve any
hidden causes, and get my 'love cup' (love needs)
filled in healthy ways, so I won't seek to deaden my
emptiness by acting out self-destructive ways or seek
to get my 'love cup' filled with the wrong kind of
love. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Jesus in Luke 4:18 (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.

* * * * * * *


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
As You Think So Are You

"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."1

Golfer Arnold Palmer has won hundreds of trophies, but
he never flaunts them. In his office is only one trophy
on display. It is a small cup he received at his first
professional win at the Canadian Open in 1955.

On his office wall is a lone framed plaque that reads:


If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win but think you can't,
it's almost certain you won't.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
is the man who thinks he can.

Life's battles, challenges, successes and/or failures
are all fought, won or lost in the mind.

"Keep your heart with all diligence," said Solomon,
"for out of it are the issues of life."2 The heart in
the Bible refers to the total mind: the intellect, the
will, and the emotions. And that's the mind we need to
guard with all diligence and daily commit and trust to
God.

For what the mind dwells on, the body acts on. If you
don't believe this, think how temptation works. First
a thought, then we dwell on it and keep thinking about
it, rationalize it in our mind, and act on it. It is
all too true: What the mind dwells on the body acts
on.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to guard
my heart and my thoughts with all diligence … and keep
my thoughts focused on things that are 'true, pure, and
of good report.' Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 23:7
2. Proverbs 4:23

<)))><

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.

* * * * * * *

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
Handling Criticism
"For I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won't
like what I find, and then you won't like my response.
I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip,
conceit, and disorderly behavior."1
Colonel George Washington Goethals, the man
responsible for the completion of the Panama Canal,
had stifling problems with the climate and the
geography of Central America. Driving rains,
incredible heat, and deadly disease were problems that
never left his task. But his biggest challenge was the
growing criticism back home from those who predicted
he'd never finish the project. The voices of the
critics appeared to be the biggest problem of all.
Finally, a colleague asked him, "Aren't you going to
answer these critics?"
"In time," answered Goethals.
"When?" his partner asked.
"When the canal is finished," replied Goethals.2
Criticism can be very hurtful and discouraging; that
is, if we allow it to be. Admittedly, it takes a good
amount of healthy self-confidence to be able to
withstand the cutting remarks of jealous, lesser
people. As long as we are living and working in
harmony with God's Word and his will, we can, with
God's help, choose not to allow criticism to control
us.
I like what one person said, "What you think of me is
none of my business!"
So, let's make sure we are not critical, negative,
discouraging people. And if people criticize us, let
our deeds speak for themselves.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me not to be
a critical person. Help me to live in harmony with
your will so if I am criticized, I will let my actions
and what I do be my answer to my critics. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."
1. 2 Corinthians 12:20 (NLT).
2. The Timothy Report, Copyright (c) 2004 Swan Lake
Communications, http://www.timothyreport.com. Cited on
andy_chaps-thefunnies.
<)))><

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.

* * * * * * *

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 Love

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life."1

"Years ago, R. G. Lee told a powerful story about a
mountain school that had a hard time keeping a
teacher. It seems there was a group of big, rough boys
who took pride in running the teacher off. The biggest
and roughest of them all was named Tom.

"A new young teacher won over the boys by allowing
them to write the rules for the school--which were
strictly enforced with a rod. For example, cheating
would be punished with five strokes of the rod, and
stealing with ten strokes, both to be given with the
offender's coat off.

"Everything went well until one day Tom's lunch was
stolen. A frail little boy in hand-me-down clothes
that were too big for him admitted his guilt. The
school rules demanded that he be whipped. When the
teacher called the little fellow up front, he came
whimpering and begging to leave his coat on. The
pupils insisted he obey the rules and take off his
coat. When he did, a deathly silence settled over the
room, for he had no shirt on and his emaciated body
looked like skin stretched over bones. The teacher
gasped and dropped the rod. He knew he could never
whip that little boy.

"Suddenly, big Tom strode up and stood between the
two. 'I'll take it for him, Teacher, for after all it
was my lunch he stole.' He shrugged out of his coat.

"At the third blow the switch broke, and the teacher
threw it in the corner and said, 'That's all, school
dismissed.'

"The frail little boy laid his hand on big Tom's arm
and through his tears said, 'Thank you, Tom, it would
have killed me.'"2

And that's exactly what Jesus did for you and me when
he died on the cross some 2000 years ago--he took your
and my punishment for all our sins so we could be
freely forgiven and given God's gift of eternal life.
And that punishment did kill Jesus.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life." Do you believe that
Jesus died for your sins and, if so, have you accepted
God's full and free pardon? You can do that right now
by praying the following prayer:

"Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry
for all the wrongs that I have done. I believe that
your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins.
Please forgive me. 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 let us know by going
to:http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php.

For further help read, "How to Be Sure You're a Real
Christian" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

1. John 3:16 (NIV).
2. 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.

* * * * * * *
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
How to Get Prayer Answered Part III
"If we ask anything according to God's will, he hears
us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we
ask, we know that we have the request which we have
asked from him."6
Pray specifically. Recently I had a need for office
equipment and asked God to show me how to get the
needed funds that month! That night I was unable to
sleep so I got up and worked on balancing my finances.
To my amazement, I found a mistake in my favor and was
able to order the equipment the next day!
Pray persistently. Not all prayers get answered so
quickly. I have prayed for some things for years
before getting an answer. If our prayer is legitimate,
sometimes we need to be as persistent as Jacob, who
once said to God, "I will not let you go until you
have blessed me."7 Jesus Himself said, "Ask and it
will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock
and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who
asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who
knocks, the door will be opened."8 The principle is to
keep on asking and seeking until you receive.
Pray in harmony with God's will. As today's Scripture
says, "If we ask anything according to God's will, he
hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever
we ask, we know that we have the request which we have
asked from him."6
High on God's priorities for us is our growth and
maturity. Prayers in harmony with this principle, and
with all of God's will, will always be effective.
Prayers outside his will are denied.
Pray sincerely. "Do you want to be made well?" was
Jesus' question. In other words, if we want God to
answer our prayers, we have to want the answer enough
to be willing to pay the price. For instance, if we
want to grow in faith, love, patience, perseverance,
and maturity, we need to realize that all of these are
acquired through experience, often painful experience.
As the Bible says, "Suffering produces endurance, and
endurance produces character."9
Pray in Jesus' name. "I tell you the truth," [Jesus
said] "anyone who has faith in me will do what I have
been doing. He will do even greater things than these,
because I am going to [God] the Father. And I will do
whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son [Jesus]
may bring glory to [God] the Father. You may ask me
for anything in my name, and I will do it."10
Finally, come to God on his terms. Effective prayer is
also dependent on our having a right relationship with
God through his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only one
through whom we can approach God. "Nobody can come to
God except through me,"11 Jesus said. Because of our
sin, our relationship with God has been broken. But
because of Christ's death for us on the cross, our
relationship with God can be restored by our
responding to Jesus' invitation to receive him into
our heart and life as personal Lord and Savior.* And
then we can come to God in prayer through Jesus.
When we are living in a right relationship with God
and learn to pray the right prayers, we can be certain
that God will answer them. As Jesus said, "If you stay
in [right relationship with] me and obey my commands,
you may ask any request you like, and it will be
granted!"12
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you are
always available to hear and answer my prayers. Like
Thomas of old, please help me in my times of unbelief
to know in my heart that you always hear and answer my
prayers when I pray sincerely, in harmony with your
will, and come to you through Jesus Christ my Lord and
my Savior. Thank you for always doing this. Gratefully
in Jesus' name. Amen."
* To accept God's Invitation to accept his full and
free pardon go to:
http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php.
6. 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV).
7. Genesis 32:26 (TLB)(NLT).
8. Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV).
9. Romans 5:3-4 (RSV)(NASB).
10. John 14:12-14 (NIV)
11. John 14:6
12. John 15:7 (TLB)(NLT)
<)))><

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
How to Get Prayer Answered Part II
"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who
call on him in truth."2
Pray for truth. When we have a problem, a habit that
has us beaten, a conflict, or even some sicknesses, we
tend to focus our prayers on the symptoms rather than
on the cause or causes. As counselor Dr. Cecil Osborne
explains, when we unconsciously cover a deeper sin or
fault, we tend to confess a lesser one all the more
vigorously [or somebody else's]. This is because we
don't see or are afraid to see the often deeper cause
or causes of our problems.
Whenever I have a problem, I acknowledge the problem
but also ask God to show me the root cause of the
problem, because often our problems are the fruit of a
deeper root. In other words, we usually just see the
"presenting problem," which so often is the symptom of
a deeper problem.
This is why I ask God to face me with the truth of
what I am or might be contributing to my problem, to
give me the courage to see it, and the help to do what
I need to do to resolve it. Praying for the truth is
one of the most effective ways of praying I know.
Sometimes I don't want to see the truth for fear it
might be too frightening, so I tell God that I am
willing to be made willing to see it--whatever it
might be--and no matter how painful this might be.
Whenever I have prayed this way, I have always had my
prayer answered. Sometimes the answer comes quickly,
other times slowly. It usually depends on when I am
ready to receive it.
Pray honestly. If I pray that God will bless my
neighbor, but in my heart I hate my neighbor, which
prayer will God hear? Obviously, what my heart is
saying. The only way God will bless my neighbor in
answer to my prayer is if I admit that I hate him and
ask God to help me to love him.
Meaningless repetition doesn't mean a thing to God.3
The prayer he hears and answers is the one that comes
from the heart. As today's Scripture says, "The Lord
is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him
in truth."1
Pray believing. Faith, too, is essential for effective
prayer. As Jesus said, "All things, whatever you ask in
prayer, believing, you will receive,"4 and "according
to your faith will it be done to you."5
To be concluded…
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me always to
pray according to the principles as found in your
Word, the Bible, so I can be certain you will hear and
answer my prayers. Thank you, too, that when I am
truthful with you, you are near to help me when I call
on you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus' name. Amen."
2. Psalm 145:18 (NIV)
3. Matthew 6:7
4. Matthew 21:22 (NIV)
5. Matthew 9:29 (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.

* * * * * * *


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
How to Get Prayer Answered Part I
"You do not have, because you do not ask God. And when
you do ask, you don't receive because you ask wrongly,
with wrong motives, for selfish reasons."1
An overcast sky made the country night intensely dark
and a light drizzle made the highway dangerously
slick. On my way home that night, as I passed a
semi-trailer and pulled in front of it, my car struck
a slippery patch of roadway and went slithering
snake-like down the road out of control. Abruptly my
car swung around and began careening down the road
backwards with the semi-trailer barreling down on top
of me!
In terror I prayed, "God, help!"
With only moments to spare, my car suddenly flipped
sideways out of the path of the oncoming semi! But it
kept skidding sideways off the highway and down an
embankment. Certain my car would now overturn, in
terror I prayed again. Amazingly, my car didn't
overturn. Neither did it stop. It swung around and
then went forward bouncing through a field. "Oh no," I
thought, "now I'll end up smashing into a tree." I
thought my number was up. I prayed again.
Eventually my car stopped in front of some bushes.
Miraculously, I missed every post by the roadside and
every tree in the field. I backed up a few feet,
turned around and drove back to the freeway without a
single bruise to myself or a scratch on my car.
Was my safety a coincidence or does God answer prayer
and help us when we call on him?
In my experience, I have found that God answers some
prayers very quickly; others quite slowly. And some
don't seem to get answered at all.
Effective prayer is not a lucky charm to gain special
favors. Neither is it a pain-killer like a giant
aspirin: "Take God three times a day and you won't
feel any pain!" as John Powell put it.
Prayer can be effective. The key is learning to pray
the right prayer. As the Bible says, "You do not have,
because you do not ask God. And when you do ask, you
don't receive because you ask wrongly, with wrong
motives, for selfish reasons.1
How, then, do we pray the right prayers?
Pray responsibly. God won't do for us what we need to
do for ourselves. Many a time, for example, when I was
a student, I'd pray furiously for God's help at
examination time--especially when I wasn't adequately
prepared. I managed to pass my exams, but not because
of any pray-instead-of-study prayers.
To be continued…
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you desire
that I always come to you in prayer, and that you
always answer my prayers--one way or the other. Help
me to learn how to pray the right prayer and not
expect you to do for me what I can and need to do for
myself. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus' name. Amen."
1. James 4:2-3 (paraphrase).
<)))><

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.


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
What Is Real?

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment …
Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the
unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is
of great worth in God's sight."1

King Duncan of Sermons.com shared how his pastor told
about a young female soldier who wrote home to her
parents about a young man she was attracted to. "Of
course," she said, "since we are not allowed to wear
makeup, he has no idea how I really look."

Oh?

It's incredible, at least in the Western world, how
much value we place on physical beauty. But as we all
know, outward beauty has little to do with the
character of the person or whether they are real or
not.

In the wonderful children's story, "The Velveteen
Rabbit," by Margery Williams, the Rabbit asked the old
Skin Horse the baffling question, "What is real?" To
the stuffed rabbit, according to the boasting of the
other toys, being real had something to do with being
impressive and captivating.

But as the wise Skin Horse answered, "Real isn't how
you are made. It's a thing that happens to you. When a
child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play
with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always
truthful. "When you are Real, you don't mind being
hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he
asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse.
"You become. It takes a long time. That's why it
doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or
have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.
Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair
has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get
loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things
don't matter at all, because once you are Real you
can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."


Need I say more?

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to become
real and beautiful on the inside, knowing that these
are of great worth to you. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."

1. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (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.

* * * * * * *


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
Life's Echo
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps
what he sows."1
You may have seen the following parable on the web,
but it stands repeating.
A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams:
"AAAhhhhhhhhhh!" To his surprise, he hears the voice
repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhh!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "Son, pay attention."
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but
really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you
say or do.2
Thomas Dreier said, "The world is a great mirror. It
reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving,
if you are friendly, if you are helpful, the world
will prove loving and friendly and helpful to you. The
world is what you are."
As Jesus said, "What we sow is what we reap." If we
sow negativity, we will reap negativity. If we sow
bitterness, we will reap bitterness. If we sow
criticism, we will reap criticism. On the other hand,
if we sow love, we will reap love. If we sow
friendship, we will reap friendship. If we sow
encouragement, we will reap encouragement. Life gives
back what we give to it.
Be sure to sow seeds of kindness, encouragement, and
love today--and every day--and you will find, in time,
that is exactly what you will receive back. For what we
project is what we get back.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your Word,
the Bible, that teaches everyday principles for
meaningful living. Please help me always to sow seeds
of kindness, encouragement, and love wherever I go and
no matter with whom I am. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
1. 1. Galatians 6:7 (NIV)
2. Unknown author. Seen on the Internet.
<)))><

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Today's Daily Encounter
The Safest Road to Hell
Jesus said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the
body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of
the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."1
C. S. Lewis wisely pointed out that "The safest road
to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft
underfoot, without sudden turnings, without
milestones, without guideposts."
The danger is that good people can be lost and on
their way to Hell without knowing it. For instance,
Nicodemus, the Jewish religious leader, was a good
man. He asked Jesus a question about God and, ignoring
his question, Jesus told him that there was only one
way to see the kingdom of God, and that was, "You must
be born again." Understandably, Nicodemus was confused
and asked Jesus for an explanation. Simply put, Jesus
was saying that to enter earth we were born
physically; similarly, to enter God's
kingdom--including Heaven--we have to be born
spiritually. Jesus added that unless we are born
spiritually, we wouldn't even see the Kingdom of
Heaven let alone enter it.2
And how can we be born spiritually? 1) By admitting
that we have sinned and are guilty before God; 2) By
believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that
he died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins;
and 3) By inviting Jesus Christ to come into our heart
and life as personal Lord and Savior, and asking God
for his forgiveness and the gift of eternal life.
For help to do this, please read "God's Invitation to
accept his full and free pardon," on line at:
www.actsweb.org/invitation.php.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for explaining
to Nicodemus, a good man and a religious leader, that
he, too, needed to be born again spiritually to enter
your kingdom of Heaven. Please help me to know for
certain that I am born again and will be with you in
Heaven when my life's work is ended. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus'
name, amen."
1. Mathew 10: 28 (NIV).
2. See John 3:3, 5 and 7 (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
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
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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
Left Behind at God's Last Trumpet Call

The Bible says: "For the Lord himself will come down
from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First,
the Christians who have died will rise from their
graves. Then, together with them, we who are still
alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be
with the Lord forever."1

I was only a child at the time--about eight or
nine--but it was so painful I've never forgotten it.
It was the Christmas season and my parents took me and
my older sister to a church (where we sometimes
attended) for their annual Sunday School Christmas
tree celebration. Every child there received a gift
from the tree; that is, every child except me. I felt
totally left out and very sad. Only one person noticed
that I was left out and said anything to me. This kind
man (I still remember his name), Mr. Norsworthy, cared
and gave me a two-shilling coin which was a very
valuable gift to me at that time.

Many of us remember, too, when we were kids and were
not chosen to be on a team how badly we felt, and
again when friends were invited to a party, and we
weren't. As young adults most of us at one time or
another felt rejected by someone of the opposite sex
whom we had a crush on. At the time it was very
painful. And what is more painful than, when married,
being rejected by the one who promised to love us
until death do we part. Feeling rejected or feeling
left out can be devastating.

The day is coming when time, as we know it, will no
longer be. This will be when Jesus Christ returns to
earth, as he promised, to take all his true followers
to be with him in Heaven forever. I don't know how to
emphasize enough the need for making sure that you are
ready for Christ's return. To be left behind at this
time would be the most devastating experience known to
mankind. As Jesus reminded us, "Two men will be working
together in the field; one will be taken, the other
left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill;
one will be taken, the other left."2

A final reminder from God's Word: "For the Lord
himself will come down from heaven with a commanding
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have
died will rise from their graves. Then, together with
them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth
will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever."1

As James Black wrote in his popular hymn, "When the
trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no
more, And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and
fair; When the saved of earth shall gather over on the
other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be
there."

When God's last Trumpet Call sounds, will you be
ready? What if it were today? If you are not
absolutely sure that you would be ready, I urge you to
receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and receive God's
forgiveness today. For help be sure to read "Passport
for Heaven" on line at:
http://tinyurl.com/passport-for-heaven. Whatever you
do, Don't leave earth without it.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your free
salvation, your forgiveness of sins, and your gift of
eternal life for all who accept Jesus Christ as their
personal Lord and Savior. Please help me to know
without a doubt that I have accepted Jesus as my
Savior, so that I will be ready for the day when your
Last Trumpet Call sounds and Jesus returns for all his
true followers. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NLT).
2. Matthew 24:40-41 (NLT).
<)))><

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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Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

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Today's Daily Encounter
Listen to the Whisper

Jesus said, "And if you give even a cup of cold water
to one of the least of my followers, you will surely
be rewarded."1

A successful man known for his generosity was driving
his new car through a poor part of town. A boy tried
to flag him down. The man didn't want to get involved,
so pretended he didn't see the child. As he slowed for
a red traffic light, he heard a loud crash. Someone
had thrown a brick at his car, denting the trunk.

The man stopped, jumped out of his car and grabbed the
boy that threw the brick. "You juvenile delinquent!" he
yelled. "You'll pay for this or go to jail!"

"I'm sorry, mister," the boy cried. "My mom's lying on
the floor in our apartment. I think she's dying. Our
phone's been cut off and I've been trying for ten
minutes to get someone to stop. I didn't know what
else to do! Take me to jail, but please, call a doctor
for my mom first."

The man was filled with shame. "I'm a doctor," he said
and asked, "where is she?" The boy took him to his
mother and the doctor administered CPR and called an
ambulance.

"Will she live?" the boy sobbed.

"Yes, son, she will," the doctor said.

"Then it's worth going to jail. I'm so sorry I ruined
your car. You can take me in now."

"You're not going anywhere," the doctor said. "It was
my fault you had to throw a brick to get my
attention."

The doctor made sure the boy was taken care of, and as
he drove home he resolved not to fix the dent. He would
keep it as a reminder that not everyone in need has a
brick to throw.2

Or, as another version concluded, "Don't go through
life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you
to get your attention! God whispers in our souls and
speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have
time to listen, he has to throw a "brick" at us. It's
our choice: Listen to the whisper…or wait for the
brick!"

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a
sensitive heart and a listening ear so that when
someone in need reaches out for help, I will stop and
be as Jesus to this person simply because of your love
and all that you have done for me. Help me never to
forget this. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Matthew 10:42 (NLT).
2. Author unknown. Variations seen on the Internet.

<)))><

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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Copyright (c) 2011 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
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Today's Daily Encounter
Opportunity Lost
"Almost you persuade me to be a Christian."1
When Mahatma Gandhi was attending university in
London, he became almost convinced of the validity of
Christianity, seeing it as possibly the one true
supernatural religion.
After graduation, he continued to seek evidence that
would persuade him to become a committed Christian.
When he accepted employment in another country, and
lived with a family who were members of an evangelical
Christian church, he believed this would be his
greatest source of evidence for the Christian faith.
Gandhi lived with this family for seven months, but
after seeing their casual attitude towards God,
hearing them complain about making sacrifices for
Christ, and becoming acutely aware of their religious
apathy, he became disillusioned.
"No," he concluded, "Christianity is not the one true,
supernatural religion I had hoped to find. A good
religion, but just one more of the many religions of
the world."
While circumstances were vastly different with King
Agrippa who heard the Apostle Paul's testimony and
rejected it, Gandhi, too, was almost persuaded to
become a Christian--but was put off because of a
Christian's poor testimony.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to so live
that my behavior and attitude will never turn anyone
away from you. But help me to live so that people will
see Jesus in me and want Jesus for themselves. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully,
in Jesus' name, amen."
1. King Agrippa in Acts 26:28.
<)))><

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
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
Flying Through the Flack
"If you love me, obey me; and I will ask the Father
and he will give you another Comforter, and he will
never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who
leads into all truth."1
Whenever we make major changes in our life in order to
make progress or grow in our personal or spiritual
life, or to seek to serve God more enthusiastically,
chances are we will face some opposition and flak.
On one occasion I was facing an uncomfortable amount
of flak because of a major change of direction I had
made in my life, which I believed was the right thing
for me to do. However, the flak I received came not
from "the enemy without" but from opposition within.
As the saying goes, "Christians are the only army that
shoots its wounded."
When I was feeling the strain and feeling afraid, I
pictured in my mind's eye that I was a pilot flying
through unfriendly territory with a lot of flak coming
at me. But sitting beside me was my co-pilot, Jesus.
Immediately I knew I would be safe and that he would
guide me safely through the storm. And he did. And I
am where I am today because of it.
It helps to remember that no matter what we are going
through, if we are a true Christian and put our trust
in God, his presence and Spirit are always with us. A
part of the work of the Holy Spirit (God's Spirit) is
that he is not only our Comforter, but is one who is
called alongside to help us in every situation in
which we find ourselves. Note, too, that the Holy
Spirit is called alongside to be our helper--not to do
for us what we are responsible for doing ourselves.
Suggested prayer: "Dear Jesus God, when I need to make
choices or changes that I believe are necessary and
right, please give me the courage to make them
regardless of the opposition or flak I might receive.
And help me always to 'see' your being with me. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully,
in Jesus' name, amen."
1. John 14:15-17 (TLB)(NLT).
<)))><

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
Coaching the Witness
"Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all
times--speaking truly, dealing truly, living
truly--and so become more and more in every way like
Christ who is the Head of his body, the church."1
A boy who was a witness to a crime was on the witness
stand in court. He was approached by the defense
attorney who asked, "Did anyone tell you what to say
in the court?"
"Yes, Sir," the boy answered.
"I thought so," said the attorney. "Who was it?"
"My father, Sir," said the boy.
"And what did he tell you?" the attorney asked
accusingly.
"He said that the lawyers would try to get me all
tangled up, but if I stuck to the truth, everything
would be all right."2
Need I say more except to say that one of my constant
prayers is that God will help me to be a herald
(messenger) of grace and truth--and help me to live it
first; and always to be a truth-teller and never a
people-pleaser-teller!
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me, no matter
what the situation, to always tell the truth so that I
will never get tangled up in lies and thereby
sacrifice my integrity. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."
1. Ephesians 4:15-16 (TLB)(NLT).
2. Cited in Parables, etc., July 2004.
<)))><

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
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Today's Daily Encounter
The Power of Unity

"Locusts have no king, yet they advance together in
ranks."1

In younger days I trained in Australia's National
Service in the Engineers Corps. When constructing
Bailey bridges over rivers, we would use large folding
boats that were manned by six oarsmen and one helmsman.
When we oarsmen all pulled together in harmony, we
moved along very well. But it only took one of us to
be out of sync and our boat would get off course
immediately. At first there were times we went in
circles and a time or two we ran into another boat, or
into the river bank. With practice we eventually
learned to work as a team and pull together. Only then
did we get the job done.

Even if stronger people have to slow down a little
(which can be difficult for some) to allow weaker ones
to keep up, pulling together as a team at home, at
work, or at play makes life so much more fulfilling
and harmonious. It also gets us to where we want to
go. Without this unity we spend lots of energy going
around in circles getting nowhere fast.

The locusts teach us a valuable lesson about the power
and impact that can be made when we learn to work
together in unity and harmony.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be a
team player at home, at work, at play, and in the work
you have for me to do as a partner in what you are
doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."

1. Proverbs 30: 27 (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.