Daily Encounter with: ACTS International

Today's Daily Encounter

Enrich Your Personal Life - Part I  

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I
am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful
labor for me…."1

Several years ago one grandmother I know sold off the
old family home, pulled up her roots, left many of her
friends and activities behind, and moved to a
retirement village in another town. She had been
healthy and energetic all her life, but in the last
year after her move she aged considerably and developed
a terminal illness.

At age 65 another friend of mine retired from being a
full-time minister of a large church and set up a
full-time counseling center and wrote his first book.
His book became a bestseller and he has since written
ten more. At age 80 he had slowed down but was still
counseling and writing.

What made the difference between these two people? Like
many elderly people who retire or move to another
place, the first person suffered deeply from the loss
of friends, her home of many years, and the activities
she was used to. She became lonely and life for her
seemed to lose its meaning. She had no real purpose to
carry her through this time of major change and
readjustment.

The second person, however, had something to live for
long before his retirement. He just continued it after
"retirement."

Loneliness, emptiness, boredom, and lack of purpose are
all a very real part of modern man's dilemma. They are
indicative of our failure to find meaning for living
and they show up in the alarming abuse of alcohol and
other drugs, and in the high depression and suicide
rate.

In America, for example, the most affluent country on
earth, thousands of people take their own lives each
year. And there are countless others who, while living
in the midst of abundance, to quote Henry D. Thoreau,
live lives of "quiet desperation."

The tragedy in life, however, is not death, but rather,
as Albert Schweitzer once said, "what dies inside a man
[or woman] while he/she lives." A person dies inside
when he has no meaningful purpose outside of himself
for which to live.

To be continued …

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to discover
my God-given life purpose and then, with your help,
employ all of my powers for the achievement of this
purpose. And please grant that what I contribute will
help make the world in which I live a better place for
others to live. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:21-22 (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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Love Opens Doors  

"Love never fails."1

According to an article in Today in the Word, soon
after Queen Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert, the
couple had a quarrel, whereupon Prince Albert locked
himself in his private apartment. Queen Victoria
knocked furiously on his door.

"Who's there?" asked Albert.

"The Queen of England, and she demands to be admitted."


There was no response and the door remained locked. The
queen knocked furiously again.

"Who's there?" asked Albert again. The queen's response
was the same … as was Albert's. 

After more furious knocking and no response came a
quiet pause--and then a gentle tap.

"Who's there?" asked Albert once more.

"Your wife, Albert," the queen replied. Immediately the
door was opened.

As the writer of this article pointed out, "Love opens
doors." 

Need I say more?

Suggested Prayer: "Dear God, help me always to be a
door opener and not a door closer. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen." 

1. 1 Corinthians 13:8 (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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Think and Grow Peaceful  

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and
right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about
things that are excellent and worthy of praise."1

In his article, "Today I Will Make a Difference," Max
Lucado wrote, "Today I will make a difference. I will
begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the
product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and
hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy
and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my
circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such
as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my
masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism
will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark.
Today I will make a difference."2

The reality is that we eventually become what we
constantly think about for "what the mind dwells on the
body acts on." 

Admittedly, controlling our thoughts can be much easier
said than done. To succeed, it not only needs
consistent practice and mental discipline, but also the
resolution of things that "bug" us. For instance, if we
have any major unresolved personal conflicts with
accompanying super-charged negative emotions, these can
have a major effect on our thinking. They can be
compared to having a throbbing toothache that literally
controls our thinking. Because of the pain, it's just
about impossible to think about anything else until we
get to the dentist and have the aching tooth taken care
of.

To live a peaceful life, it is imperative that we learn
to control and consistently think positive thoughts.
And to control our thoughts, it is imperative that we
resolve any and all personal conflicts. In other words,
if we want to live peacefully we need to get all our
"emotional-tooth-aches" resolved.

Suggested prayer, "Dear God, thank you that your Word
teaches the importance of positive thinking 'about
things that are excellent and worthy of praise.' Please
help me to live in harmony with your will, be rid of
all guilt by confessing  my sins, and resolving all
personal conflicts so that I will be able to fix my
'thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right,
and pure, and lovely, and admirable.' Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer, gratefully in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. Philippians 4:8 (NLT). 
2. Max Lucado, www.MaxLucado.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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Mindset Matters  

The Apostle Paul at the end of his life confidently
said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith."1

There's an old parable that explains how three men were
working hard cutting stone from large blocks of
granite. When asked what they were doing, the first man
said, "I'm making bricks." The Second man said, "I'm
cutting stones for the foundation of a large building,"
while the third man said, "I'm building a cathedral."

All three men were equally capable and doing the same
work, so which man's work do you think would have been
the most fulfilling? What mattered was each man's
thinking about the purpose of the work he was doing. It
wasn't his aptitude that made the difference--it was
his attitude--his mindset!

One's attitude will determine the direction and purpose
of one's life. The purpose of one man might be to make
lots of money, while the purpose of another might be to
help build the lives of the people he is serving. One
woman may see housework as a burdensome chore while
another does it joyfully because she is doing it for
the ones she loves. It's their mindset that makes the
difference. 

The reason the Apostle Paul ended his life victoriously
was because he had a noble God-given life-purpose and
had dedicated his entire life to fulfilling that
purpose. He had a mindset that mattered.

If we want to end our life with a sense of fulfillment,
it will be our mindset now that will determine how we
end. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, Please help me to discover
my God-given life purpose and dedicate my life to
serving you by loving and serving people. Help me to
live in harmony with your will and, with your help, to
fulfill my God-given life purpose by living a life that
matters--not only for time but also for eternity. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer, gratefully in
Jesus' name, amen."

1. 2 Timothy 4:7 (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.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

New Year's Resolutions  

Wishing all a very Happy and God-blessed New Year!


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 stated 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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.
  


Today's Daily Encounter

A Sermon Walking  

"Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves."1

In 1953 reporters gathered at a Chicago railway station
waiting to meet the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

He was a big man, six-feet-four tall with bushy hair
and a large mustache.

Reporters were excited to see him and expressed what an
honor it was to meet him. Cameras were flashing,
compliments were being expressed--but seeing beyond the
adulation the visitor noticed an elderly Afro-American
woman struggling to carry her two large suitcases.

"Excuse me," he said as he went to the aid of this
woman. Picking up her cases, he escorted her to a bus
and then apologized to the reporters for keeping them
waiting.

The man was Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the famous
missionary-doctor who had invested his life helping
poor and sick people in Africa.

A member of the reception committee remarked to one of
the reporters, "That's the first time I ever saw a
sermon walking."

The measure of any man or woman is not their name,
their fame, nor what they say--but what they do.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be a
doer of your Word and not just a hearer. Grant that my
life will also be a sermon walking. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen." 

1. James 1:22.

<)))><    
  
  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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.
  
Today's Daily Encounter

The Gift of an Untroubled Mind  

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not
give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts
be troubled and do not be afraid."1

In his book, Peace of Mind, Joshua Liebman writes of an
experience he had when he was still a boy. "I made a
list of the supreme goods in life," Liebman said. "I
went to a wise mentor and I showed him the list
expecting to be praised for my precocity. The list went
something like this … health, love, talent, riches,
beauty, and faith. As I shared the list with the old
wise man, he reached for a stub of a pencil, and
carefully scratched through all of the things that I
had listed. He said, "Young man, you may have all of
these--health, love, faith, riches, beauty--but they
will all turn out to be enemies instead of friends
unless you have the one thing you missed." Then he
wrote on the paper, "The gift of an untroubled mind."2

From what I read and hear it appears that so many
people (at least in our modern society) are plagued by
depression, heartbreak, worry, anxiety, fear, and
impaired relationships. And (compared to most of the
world) we have just about every material benefit and
human comfort we want, except so many don't have peace
of mind.

There are two kinds of peace we all need in order to
fully live. First, and most important of all, is
spiritual peace or peace with God knowing that our sins
are forgiven, our guilt is gone, and we have God's
promise of a home in heaven for all eternity. This gift
from God is absolutely free and comes from admitting
our sinfulness and accepting Jesus as our Savior. For
help see No.4 below: "Finding Peace with God."

The other kind of peace we could call emotional or
relational peace. This comes from resolving any and all
impaired relationships, forgiving any and all who have
ever hurt us, and resolving any and all negative
emotions--especially super-charged repressed negative
emotions which are destroyers of both emotional and
physical wellbeing and extremely destructive of
personal relationships. The Bible also instructs us to
get rid of (not bury or deny) all feelings of hatred
and all negative emotions.3


As this year comes to an end, let's do our part in
ending it in peace. Whether it be finding spiritual
peace by renewing our relationship with the Lord, or
doing our part in mending broken relationships and
finding peace with others. Let's start 2019 well. 


Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see and
resolve anything in my life that is causing me to have
a troubled mind. Please fill me with your love and help
me to know and experience your eternal peace in the
very center of my being. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. John 14:27 (NIV).
2. Cited in Receive the Gift of an Untroubled Mind by
Robert H. Schuller. 
3. See 1 Peter 2:1-3 and James 5:16.
4. "Finding Peace With God" at:
http://tinyurl.com/find-peace.

<)))><    
  
  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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Unexpected Strangers  

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing
some people have entertained angels without knowing
it."1

Imagine you were an expert mechanic working on your car
and along comes a stranger and tells you what you
should do to fix it. What would you think and how would
you feel? At the very least I'd question the stranger's
reliability.

Maybe that's the way Peter, James and John felt after
they had been fishing all night and caught nothing when
Jesus told them to take their boats out and try again.
They were experienced fisherman so what would Jesus
know about fishing that they didn't know? They didn't
know who he really was. Nevertheless, they did what he
suggested and caught so many fish they had to get help
to bring in the nets.

Then there were the religious leaders of Christ's day
who had no idea who Jesus was either, but they were
jealous of him and had him crucified.

Unfortunately, it is true that we can't trust everybody
and we need to be on our guard against deceptive and
dishonest people. At the same time we never know who
the stranger is that has crossed our path. He/she may
be an angel unawares. Or he/she may be a person in need
of a helping hand, an encouraging word, or just "a cup
of cold water." Jesus said, "I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers
of mine, you did for me."2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me eyes to
see, ears to hear, and a heart to sense so that I will
know when you have sent a 'stranger' to minister to me
in my hour of need, or if you have brought into my life
a person in need of a helping hand or a touch from
you--please help me to be as Jesus to him or her. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in
Jesus' name, amen." 

1. Hebrews 13:2 (NIV).
2. Matthew 25:40 (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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Life With a Purpose  

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all
the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it
to the right or to the left, that you may be successful
wherever you go."1

Motivational speaker, Mark Victor Hansen, said,
"Setting goals is one of the most important things you
can do to guarantee your personal, professional and
financial success. Goals are like a road map to your
target destination. Each goal accomplished is another
mile behind you on the way to where you want to be."

Years ago I heard another speaker say, "Success is the
ability to embrace a worthwhile goal and employ all of
your powers for the achievement of that goal."

A life without goals is like a ship without a rudder
drifting where the winds and waves of chance direct.
However, even more important than setting goals is to
first discover one's God-given life purpose and then
establish goals to fulfill that purpose. 

This is exactly what Joshua did. And as long as he and
the people of Israel lived by God's laws and followed
God's plan, God assured them that they would have good
success. God will do the same for you and me, too, as
we live in harmony with his will and follow God's plan
and purpose for our life.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to discover
and clearly define my God-given life purpose and then
direct me in the setting of worthwhile and specific
goals that, with your help and my commitment, will
assure the fulfillment of my life purpose. Thank you
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus' name, amen."

1. Joshua 1:7 (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.
  
  * * * * * * * 
  
  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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

A Place for Jesus  “And she gave birth to her firstborn sonand wrapped him
in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because
there wasno place for them in the inn."1There is a
well-known children’s book called “Mortimer’s
ChristmasManger", by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman,
that is read by many families duringChristmastime. The
book tells the story of a small mouse named Mortimer
wholives in a dark hole under the stairs in a big
house. He disliked this hole verymuch, so he decided to
look for a new home within the same house. One day
hecame across a house that was just his size that sat
on a table next to the Christmastree. When he climbed
up to take a look, he saw it was occupied by small
people.After trying to speak with these people, he
realized that they were smallstatues, so he decided to
drag them out of the house so that he could livethere.
This new house he had found was actually a Nativity set
with all of thecharacters that form part of it, amongst
these was baby Jesus. He was so very pleased with this
new house, especially with thenew bed (manger) which
was just his size. He went out during the day to find
food,and when he returned to his home, he found all of
the characters placed neatlyback where they belonged.
So, he tugged and pulled until he got all of them
outagain. This happened day after day until one day
when he overheard the fatherof the family telling a
story. The father told the story of how Joseph and
Marywent to Bethlehem and how there was no room for
them in the inn. Then Mortimerheard about a baby. A
baby who was born in a stable and had no real bed
butslept in a wooden manger, and that his name was
Jesus. Suddenly he realizedthat all this time he had
been kicking Jesus out of his home! With tears in
hiseyes, he runs to baby Jesus and says “There was no
room for you in the inn. ButI know where there is
room." He quickly puts all of the statues back in
theirplace, and lies Jesus back in the manger. This may
seem like a simple children’s tale, but it has a
veryspecial message for us this Christmas. During the
holiday season, many of usrun from here to there trying
to get all we need to make Christmas a specialtime:
decorations, the Christmas tree, gifts, etc. In the
busyness of it all,we forget the main reason for
Christmas - Jesus. We “kick" him out of his home(our
hearts) and selfishly try to fill that place with our
own stuff. Friends, let me invite you to pause right
where you are andlisten. Listen to Jesus knocking on
the door of our hearts waiting for us togive him his
rightful place in our lives. After all, He and He
alone, is thereason we celebrate. Born to us as a baby,
who then grew to take our place onthat rugged cross and
pay the penalty for our sins. We were bought with a
greatprice. Let’s choose to make a place for Jesus in
our hearts once again, andkeep him there for good.
Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for giving us
the greatestgift of all in your only Son Jesus. Please
forgive us for filling our heartsand lives with our own
agenda and leaving no place for Him. Allow us to
pauseand reflect and remember the reason we celebrate
today. Jesus, we welcome youback into our hearts where
we ask you to live and reign forever as our Lord
andSavior. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name. Amen."
1.      Luke 2:7 (ESV)    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
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  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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  U.S.A.

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
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  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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  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
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Today's Daily Encounter

The Power of One  

"Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who
heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother
Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that
is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus."1

Did you ever stop to think how very important you are
in God's economy and his plans? Pretty much throughout
the entire Bible when God had a work to be done, he
chose and called an individual to lead. True he chose
the nation of Israel to be his special people, but he
chose individuals to lead this nation to do his work.
God also has a place for you and me in his plan. It may
not be a gigantic role, but it is an important one. 

Think of the twelve disciples, for example, who were
all a vital part of God's mission. Half of them never
said anything that is recorded in the New Testament.
And if I remember correctly, three of them said only a
word or two that was recorded. And Andrew, who didn't
have much to say, brought Peter, who became the early
church leader and evangelist, to Jesus. Andrew was also
the one who brought the boy with the two loaves and
fishes to Jesus that Jesus used to feed the multitude.
It was only Peter, James, Matthew and John that we
heard much from, but every one of Jesus' disciples had
an equally important role to play in God's program.

Whether your task is great or small, God wants to use
you to be a part of his plan in what he is doing in
your world today. All we need is to be available.
Remember, as an anonymous poet wrote:

    One song can spark a moment,
    One flower can wake the dream.
    One tree can start a forest,
    One bird can herald spring.
    One smile begins a friendship,
    One handclasp lifts a soul.
    One star can guide a ship at sea,
    One word can frame the goal.
    One vote can change a nation,
    One sunbeam lights a room.
    One candle wipes out darkness,
    One laugh will conquer gloom.
    One step must start each journey,
    One word must start each prayer.
    One hope will raise our spirits,
    One touch can show you care.
    One voice can speak with wisdom,
    One heart can know what's true.
    One life can make the difference,
    You see it's up to you!

In the words of Edward Everett Hale: "I am only one.
But still I am one. I cannot do everything, But still I
can do something. And because I cannot do everything I
will not refuse to do the Something that I can do." 

Don't ever forget how very important you are, not only
to your loved ones, your work, but also to God.
Remember, too, "if it's going to be, it will be up to
you and me!"

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I'm available, please use
me to be a part of your plan and what you are doing in
the world in which I live. Use me to be 'as Jesus' in
some way to make a difference in someone's life today.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen." 

1. John 1:40-42 (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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
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  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Life's Little Frustrations  

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about
everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to
thank him for his answers. If you do this you will
experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful
than the human mind can understand."1

Paul Dickson discovered that the size of the cut he
inflicted on himself while shaving was directly
proportionate to the importance of the event he was
shaving for. That led him to an interest in other
"universal laws" evident in daily life. The following
are a few of the many he has collected:

"No books you lend are lost except those you
    particularly want to keep.

"There are three ways to get something done:
    do it yourself, hire someone, or tell your kids 
    not to do it.

"You can throw a burnt match out of the window
    of your car and start a forest fire easier than
    you can start one under dry logs in your fireplace
    with a box of matches and the complete edition
    of the Sunday newspaper."

Let's face it, more often than not it's life's little
annoyances that get to trigger our "worry/ frustration
button" and cause us to overreact in one way or
another. 

As one of my favorite ditties goes: "It's the little
things that bother us / and put us on the rack / you
can sit upon a mountain / but you can't sit on a tack."

Most of us have at least one worry/frustration
button--and as long as this button is active, it's a
good reminder that I still have some growing to do--and
will until I get to the place where I quit worrying and
overreacting and learn to trust God for everything! 

Hmm. I see I still have a ways to go!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to keep
growing in 'faith and love and every grace' so I can
get to the point where I can accept life's frustrations
without getting my buttons pushed, and trust you in
every situation. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen." 

1. Philippians 4:6-7 (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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Daily Encounter ~
Today's Daily Encounter

Holiday Blues  

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared
with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his
favor rests.'"1

Most of us suffer from fears, anxiety, stress, and
various degrees of depression and the "blues" at
various times of our life. It's when these feelings are
affecting our daily functioning for extended periods,
or when they are debilitating, that they become a
problem for many. 

However, during the Christmas and holiday season
depression and the "blues" increases considerably for
many. This can be caused by increased stresses, the
loss of income, and especially because of the loss of a
loved one, broken or impaired relationships, no
meaningful relationships, being away at war and/or
separated from family and loved ones, and just plain
old-fashioned loneliness. 

Unfortunately, I don't know of any simple answers for
how to cope with the holiday blues when one is facing
adverse circumstances. Simple, pat answers can be even
more depressing. Certainly we need to trust God, but
even Jesus needed personal friends and
relationships--and so do we. We were created for
relationships, not only with God, but also with each
other. And we especially need loving, warm
relationships at Christmas time--when it is meant to be
"peace on earth good will toward men."

I don't want to sound simplistic as I have known times
of loneliness when nothing seemed to take away the
pain. But if you will be alone at Christmas time, for
some it can help a little if you can reach out to help
someone else who might be lonely, or call some people
on the phone and wish them a happy Christmas. Or invite
someone to your home for Christmas dinner, or contact
your (or another local church) to see if they have a
program for the lonely at Christmas that you could
attend, or better still, that you could help with.

I would like to think that most churches put on a
special family style dinner for the lonely at Christmas
or have a program where members open their homes for
the lonely during the holidays.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be
sensitive to the needs of others--especially the
lonely--during this holiday season, and reach out in a
practical way to help bring comfort to someone in need.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Luke 2:13-14 (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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter


Ask the Blind Man--He Saw It All  


"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."1


Down the long, dusty road on their way from Jericho to
Jerusalem, some two thousand years ago, trod Jesus with
His motley band of twelve disciples, followed by a huge
crowd. 


They were probably already hot and sweaty. The dust
clung to them, but, because Jesus was at the height of
His popularity, the great crowd of people pressed close
to Him. They were jabbering endlessly. Asking
questions. Seeking favors. They could be heard a mile
away. 


"Hey, what's all the noise?" blind Bartimaeus asked his
friend as they sat by the roadside begging. 


"I don't know," answered his friend with a puzzled tone
in his voice. 


"Let's ask somebody else," they agreed. 


"It's Jesus," a passer-by informed them. 


"You mean Jesus of Nazareth, the fellow they claim can
heal the sick and the blind?" Bartimaeus excitedly
asked. 


"That's the One," he replied, "and I'm not going to
miss seeing him for anything."


The crowd came closer and closer. Excitement filled the
air. The noise became intense. "I can't believe it,"
shouted Bartimaeus to his friend. "This just has to be
my lucky day. I've got to get to Jesus. I know He can
heal me." 


"Hey, Bart, there He is," cried Bartimaeus's friend,
"but how will you ever get his attention?" 


"This is it," said Bartimaeus. "I may never come close
to Jesus again. I want to be healed." 


With dignity dismissed, Bartimaeus, seeking to be heard
above the rowdy crowd, yelled at the top of his voice,
"Jesus, have mercy on me! O Lord, son of David, have
mercy on me!" 


"Cool it, man! Calm down! Shut up!" retorted some of
the crowd to Bartimaeus. "You're making a fool of
yourself. There are so many others here you don't stand
a chance of getting to Jesus, so just relax and keep
quiet!" 


But Bartimaeus was all the more determined to get to
Jesus. He couldn't see with his eyes but he sure could
with his heart … and he could yell. He cried out all
the louder. Hear his voice rise above the din of the
crowd. It rang out like a great clarion call. "Jesus, O
Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus, O Lord,
Son of David, have mercy on me!" 


And Jesus stood still.


And the crowds stood still. 


And a great calm settled down over them all. 


Imagine it. The winds and the waves couldn't stop the
Savior. Neither could angry mobs. Crowds of people
couldn't stop him either. But the call of one lone,
blind beggar did. 


And Jesus with his great heart of compassion called for
Bartimaeus to be brought to him. "What do you want me
to do for you?" Jesus asked. 


"Lord," Bartimaeus replied, "please give me my sight." 


And Jesus did. "Go your way," He said, "your faith has
made you whole." 


Immediately Bartimaeus could see and he followed Jesus
along the way.2


Most of us are not physically blind, but many of us
suffer from spiritual blindness. If we are as
determined as Bartimaeus was to reach the Savior, Jesus
will stand still for us too-when we call upon him from
a determined heart-and our spiritual eyes will be
opened.3


Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a
determination such as blind Bartimaeus had and open the
eyes of my understanding so that I will know and
understand your Truth and, as a result, become a
genuine follower of you. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."




1. Mark 10:51 (NIV).
2. Mark 10:46-52.
3. Adapted from I Hate Witnessing by Dick Innes. Can be
purchased online at www.actscom.com/store.


<)))><    
  
  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
  
  ACTS International
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  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

See People Power for Jesus at:
  http://www.actsweb.org/people_power.php
  
  * * * * * * *    
  
Today's Daily Encounter

What Might Have Been  

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am
the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never
walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"1

I think it was Dwight L. Moody who, when seeing a drunk
in the gutter, said, "But for the grace of God there go
I." Many a time I have wondered where I would be if it
weren't for the grace and mercy of God? The
probabilities are unthinkable. Spiritually speaking,
for certain I would have been lost at sea and, quite
possibly, would have made shipwreck of my life. 

Ronnie Hinson has written the words and music of a
gospel song that is very meaningful to me. It's
entitled "The Lighthouse" and says it well:

"There's a lighthouse on the hillside that overlooks
life's sea. When I'm tossed it sends out a light that I
might see. And the light that shines in darkness now
will safely lead me home, If it wasn't for the
lighthouse, my ship would sail no more. 

"And I thank God for The Lighthouse, I owe my life to
Him. Jesus is The Lighthouse and from the rocks of sin,
He has shown the light around me, so that I might
clearly see. If it wasn't for The Lighthouse, Where
would this ship be?"2

Dear reader, have you come to Jesus, the Lighthouse,
and found the light--the light of life and the
assurance of everlasting life with God? If not, I
encourage you to do that today by praying the
following:

Suggested prayer: "Dear Jesus God, I confess that I am
a lost sinner and come to you believing that you died
on the cross to pay the penalty for all my sin so I
could be freely forgiven and receive your gift of
eternal life. I ask you, Jesus, to forgive me for all
my sins and come into my heart and life as my personal
Savior, and thereby grant me your gift of eternal life.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus' name. Amen."

Note: If you genuinely prayed this prayer, please let
us know by going to www.actsweb.org/decision.php. 

1. John 8:12 (NIV).
2. "The Lighthouse," Words and Music by Robbie Hinson.
1971. 

<)))><    
  
  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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Editor: Richard Innes
ACTS International http://www.actsweb.org

SPECIAL NOTE ... SPECIAL NOTE ... SPECIAL NOTE ....

Dear Subscribers,

My apologies for the technical problems we have had
with sending out our Weekend Encounter. Due to ill
health (and my age -- 84) this will be our last issue
of Weekend Encounter. I appreciate your faithful
subscription and support for all the years we have been
publishing Weekend Encounter. May God richly bless and
reward you in His own abundant way.

Sincerely in
Christ, Dick.

http://www.actsweb.org www.actscom.com/store

Today's Daily Encounter

A Lesson From Ben Hur

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face
trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing
of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must
finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything."1

King Duncan writes how "there is a great lesson in the
story of Ben Hur--a young Jewish lad who is charged
with a crime he didn't commit. In a travesty of a trial
he is condemned to the galleys. They chained him to a
bench in the hold of a ship and to an oar. For weeks
and months, then years he is forced to pull on that
oar. If he should ever slack up, he will feel the sting
of the lash.

"But finally Ben Hur escapes from this barbaric
punishment. It is time for Ben Hur's famous chariot
race with Mersala, the haughty Roman. The chariot race
is ultimately a test of strength and endurance. As Ben
Hur whips those great horses around the inner ring, it
is clear that he is the stronger and more fit of the
two. The years of pulling on the oar in the hold of a
ship had produced a man of steel.

"There may be a great deal of injustice in our lives.
We may feel that we are chained to an oar. But if we
keep pulling, if we keep giving our best, [with God's
help] we can become better people through our
hardships."2

True, the trials of life can make us bitter or they can
make us better. We can take the high road or the low
road. It's never easy but the choice is ours.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, whenever trials come my
way, please help me to accept them as opportunities to
grow and become a healthier and stronger person, so I
will be better equipped to serve you and help others.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. James 1:2-4 (NIV).
2. King Duncan, 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

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050
http://www.actsweb.org

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
ACTS International.
Today's Daily Encounter

From What We Are to What We Can Become

"The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother
Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that
is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus
looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You
will be called Cephas' (that, being translated, is
Peter, the rock)."1

I was visiting the beautiful Huntington Library Gardens
a while back with some friends and was greatly
impressed with the wonderful gardens with sections
dedicated to different countries. When we were in the
Japanese section and saw the display of bonsai trees,
one of my friends remarked how sad it was to see such
wonderful trees root-bound in that they could never in
their current setting ever reach the potential that
they were designed to become.

I get the same kind of feeling at a zoo or animal
sanctuary when I see a glorious eagle cage-bound. This
"king of birds" with the incredible wingspan can rise
no higher than the cage he is in.

I wonder when God looks down and sees so many of his
children sin-bound or damaged-emotions-bound, does this
make him feel sad? I'm sure it does, but the good news
is that God also sees our great potential.

When Jesus first met Simon he saw Peter, the rock. When
he looked at Abram, he saw Abraham, the father of the
nation of Israel. When he saw David, the shepherd boy,
he saw a mighty King David. When he looked at Saul of
Tarsus, he saw Paul the Apostle.

And when Jesus looks at you and me, he sees us not only
as we are, but also what, with his help, we can become.

When Jesus looks at you, what do you thinks he sees?
Whatever you do, don't miss out on becoming what God
has envisioned for you to become. He does have a vision
and purpose for your life too. Never rest until you
discover what that purpose is.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the insight
to see what you see in me and what, with your help, I
can become. And give me the courage to do what I need
to do to fulfill your vision for me, so that my life
will be an investment in eternity. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. John 1:41-42 (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

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050
http://www.actsweb.org

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Be Careful Where You Walk

"Above all else, guard your heart . . . keep your foot
from evil."1

I have read that the African impala can jump more than
ten feet high and cover a distance of thirty feet. So
why can impalas be held captive in a zoo behind a wall
that is only three feet high?

It's because this magnificent animal will not jump if
it can't see where its feet are going to fall--and
beyond the zoo wall it cannot see.

Smart animal.

God's advice to us is the same, "Above all else, guard
your heart; for it is the wellspring of life. Put away
perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from
your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your
gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your
feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to
the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."2

Great advice!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your Word,
the Bible, which gives us instructions for wholesome,
healthy, and productive living. Give me a hunger to
know your Word and the good sense to apply it and live
by it. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 4:23, 27 (NIV).
2. Ibid.

<)))><

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

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050
http://www.actsweb.org

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

When You Can’t Forgive Yourself

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he
[God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness."1

A reader writes: "In a recent Daily Encounter you
mentioned that God forgives us and you also said,
'don't forget to forgive yourself. But what if you
can't? What if you don't know how to?'

"In short a family member was terminally ill and I was
her 24/7 caregiver which was stressful, and there were
times I lost my temper or times when I knew I should do
something with her but was hiding in another room
because I didn't like to see her that way. There is so
much I did or didn't do for which I am very regretful
and I don't know how to forgive myself. I have been
seeing a counselor and it has helped me understand but
I can't seem to forgive myself. I know there has to be
a way--but how?"

Dear Janice (name changed), when we confess our sins to
God, he does forgive us regardless of our feelings.
When we can't forgive ourselves, one reason is because
we are either perfectionists or have perfectionistic
tendencies. The problem then isn't that we can't
forgive ourselves, but that we are perfectionists who
have unreal expectations of ourselves.

Another reason can be because of low self-esteem, and
we falsely believe that we are not worthy of
forgiveness.

So, ask God to give you the insight and courage to face
the root cause of your inability to forgive yourself.
If you seek this truth with all your heart, when you
are ready to face and accept it, you will see it.

In the meantime, try to see that you are expecting more
of yourself than God is. Remember, when you confess
your sins and failures to him, he forgives you fully
and freely. Every day say out loud many times: "Thank
you, God, that you have forgiven me and, because you
have forgiven me, with your help I forgive me."
Repeatedly stating this with deep emotion or feeling,
can help to program this truth into your unconscious
mind and into your belief system. Once you truly
believe this truth, you will be able to feel forgiven.

Yes, you may find this difficult to do, but do it
anyhow because it is based on God's Word and not your
feelings. Just don't allow your damaged emotions to
control your life.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that when I
confess my sins to you, you have promised to forgive
me. Help me to not only know this but also feel it in
my heart. And whenever I have a problem forgiving
myself, please help me to see the reason for this, and
lead me to the help I need to overcome. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. 1 John 1:8-9 (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

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050
http://www.actsweb.org

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

We Do Have Choices

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care .
. . not lording it over those entrusted to you."1

Em Griffin, author of The Mind Changers, tells about a
good friend from the University of Michigan who went as
a medical missionary to Bangladesh. When he arrived on
the mission field, he was informed that he couldn't
keep his four children with him, but that they would
have to go away to boarding school. This was the policy
of the mission and he didn't have a choice.

He responded, "Sure I have a choice! Our kids need us.
Evangelization in the home first, then on the mission
field." He then proceeded to raise more money, found a
teacher, and established a mission school right on the
hospital grounds.

Certainly we need to follow our God-given leaders.
However, when they are in the wrong (as we/they
sometimes are), it is important to confront them in
Christian love where necessary, and to do what is
right. As Peter pointed out, no leader has a right to
control (lord it over) anybody else. When we do, we are
playing the role of God and the Holy Spirit in their
life.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the
serenity to accept the leadership of your servants when
what they say is in harmony with your will, the courage
and grace to stand against them when they are not in
your will, and the wisdom to know the difference. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in
Jesus' name. Amen."

1. 1 Peter 5:2-3 (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

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050
http://www.actsweb.org

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

The Beautiful Ugly Duckling

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the
LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future".1

Most of us will be familiar with the children's fable
of the ugly duckling how a mother hen had six beautiful
golden yellow chicks and one ugly gray one. The ugly
one was picked on by all the other chicks, rejected,
made fun of, and made to feel terrible because he was
so different. You can imagine how he felt. Some time
later when all the chicks were grown, along came a
flock of beautiful swans. How the ugly duckling adored
them and lo and behold, he looked into the water and
saw his own reflection and came to the profound
realization that he wasn't an ugly duckling but a
beautiful swan! His life was forever changed.

Did you ever feel like you were an "ugly duckling"
misfit? Many of us have. Many still do. I've known
beautiful people who felt and believed they were ugly.
In younger days I had a "girl friend" who told me I was
ugly. Tragically I believed her! She wasn't my girl
friend very long but the image she planted in my mind
took a long time to erase. When we define ourselves as
ugly and believe it, it can be devastating to our
self-image and behavior and how well we do in life.

When parents or peers repeatedly tell us we are ugly,
clumsy, stupid or whatever, and we believe what they
say and define ourselves that way, we tend to act
accordingly because we always act consistently with
what we believe deep down--no matter what we may
profess.

I know it is easier said than done, but there is only
one way to truly define ourselves, and that is how God
sees us. And when we see ourselves this way, our life
can be forever changed too!

Certainly God sees our wounded-ness, our brokenness,
our sins, and our failures, but he separates our person
from our actions and sees beyond these. He sees us as
his creation and loves us with an everlasting love. He
sees the person in us that he envisions us to be . . .
our potential and what, with his help, we can become.

As Michelangelo said, "I saw the angel in the marble
and chiseled until I set it free." That's how God sees
you and me. He looks beyond the rugged exterior and
sees the "angel" within each of us.

As God said to the ancient Israelites, he also says to
you and me: "For I know the plans I have for you . . .
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future."

May God help each of us to see ourselves as God sees
us, to see our God-given potential, and with God's help
become that person. (If you haven't already done this,
it begins with accepting God's Son, Jesus Christ, as
your personal Lord and Savior. For help, click on 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 know
and see me exactly as I am--and love and accept me
totally as I am. Thank you, too, that you have a
wonderful plan and purpose for my life. Please help me
to see this, believe it, and define myself as you see
me--and with your help, become that person. Gratefully
in Jesus' name. Amen."

1. Jeremiah 29:11 (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

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050
http://www.actsweb.org

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Be Angry--Sin Not

"In your anger do not sin."1

I recall teaching a group where I said that it was okay
to be angry. One lady was absolutely amazed. She told
me that she had been taught all her life that
Christians never get angry. So she had reasoned in her
mind: "Christians never get angry. I'm always angry.
Therefore I can never be a Christian!"

That night she was freed from 20 years of anguish and
received assurance of her salvation. She was indeed a
Christian because she had received Jesus as her Savior.

Anger is amoral; that is, of itself it is neither right
nor wrong. It's what we do with it and how we handle it
that matters. The Bible actually says, "In your anger
do not sin,"1 or as an older translation says, "Be
angry--sin not."

Anger itself (not rage, hostility or bitterness) is a
God-given emotion. Its purpose is to fight evil and
right wrongs. This is how Florence Nightingale used her
anger. She was angry at the way wounded soldiers were
being badly mistreated, so she did something about it.
We, too, are meant to use our anger in creative ways.

The reality is that everybody gets angry at some time
or another. Some people bury and deny theirs, while
others lash out and hurt others. Neither of these is
healthy nor Christian.

When expressing anger we need to own it as our own, and
remember that the biblical principle is to speak the
truth in love. One way to do this is to say something
like, "I know my feelings are my responsibility, but I
feel angry and need to talk to you about such and
such."

Never say to a person, "You make me angry." This is
because nobody can make us angry without our
permission. All they do is trigger our anger but the
anger is always ours.

Unfortunately, when we have a lot of bottled up anger
or anger from the past that has never been resolved,
our anger button can get triggered real easy and we
overreact. As I've said many times, what the other
person does to me is their issue. How I feel and react
is always my responsibility--but to the degree that I
overreact, that is totally my problem.

For healthy, intimate relationships it is imperative
that we learn to identify our feelings--positive and
negative--to be honest about them, and learn how to
handle them in creative, rather than destructive, ways.

As the Bible teaches, "If you are angry, don't sin by
nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun go down with you
still angry--get over it quickly, for when you are
angry [and don't resolve it] you give a mighty foothold
to the devil."2

For more information on anger and how to handling it
creatively, click on "Taming Your Anger" at:
http://tinyurl.com/tame-anger.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the gift of
feelings. Please help me to be in touch with all of
mine, be honest with them and, when expressing them,
help me to always speak the truth in love. Thank you
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus' name, amen."

1. Ephesians 4:26 (NIV).
2. Ephesians 4:25-27 (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

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050
http://www.actsweb.org

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Learning to Love

"'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the
Law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And
the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as
yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these
two commandments."1

Someone else said with tongue-in-cheek, "Heaven help
your neighbor if you hate yourself!" They were right.

Every normal person wants and needs loving
relationships, but if we hate ourselves we are not
going to experience loving relationships. We will
unconsciously project our self-hatred onto others and
set them up to reject us, for what we project is what
we get back!

Actually, only to the degree that I have learned to
love and accept myself in a healthy sense am I able to
love and accept others in a healthy sense. What I hate
and have rejected in myself, I will also hate and
reject in others. My relationships will only ever be as
healthy as I am.

Healthy self-love and acceptance isn't a prideful
thing, but rather, it is learning to know and accept
ourselves as we are--dark side and all. Only then are
we able to change and keep growing to become healthier
and more loving persons.

To grow in self-love we need to be fully known by at
least one other loving and accepting person--a person
who will not put us down, judge or criticize us, tell
us what we should or shouldn't do, try to fix us, give
unsolicited advice, or preach at us, but accept us just
as we are. It is through their knowing, accepting, and
loving us as we are that, little by little, we learn to
love and accept ourselves. This truth cannot be
over-emphasized for we can only feel loved to the
degree that we are known, accepted, and loved by at
least one loving, trusted person. This is not to imply
that this person approves of any negative or
destructive behavior. Not at all.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me at least
one safe, loving and accepting person whom I can trust
with my total life--dark side and all--and through
their loving acceptance of me, help me to learn to love
and accept myself as you love and accept me, so I can
truly love you with all my heart, soul, and mind, and
love my neighbor as you want me to. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. Matthew 22:36-40 (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

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050
http://www.actsweb.org

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Confessing Other's Sins  

"Therefore confess your sins [and faults] to each other
and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The
prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."1

Michael Josephson of Character Counts was addressing a
group of journalists regarding journalistic ethics. He
"posed the question, 'When is it proper for a
journalist to report about the private life of a public
official?'

"Jack Anderson, a well-known investigative columnist,
replied: 'I don't think we should report on the private
behavior of a politician unless it's relevant to his
job.' Then he added, 'but we don't always follow our
own tests.'

"I asked him to explain and he said: 'A few years ago,
a woman came into my office and gave me an airtight
affidavit that the mayor of Tucson had bit her on the
thigh. Now, I didn't think this was too relevant to his
job, but some stories are too good to pass up.'"2

In this political mayhem going on in the U.S. at this
time, between competing politicians attacking each
other, and considerable biased media, there are many
times when I feel like throwing up. One wonders if
there are any ethics.

I think there ought to be a strict rule that governs
all media that says, "No politician or journalist (or
anybody else) is allowed to confess anybody else's sins
and failures publicly, before confessing his or her own
publicly." Zero chance of this ever happening.

Sad to say, far too many of those who call ourselves
Christians don't do too much better. We can be quick to
confess others' sins while hiding our own. The Bible
tells us to confess our sins to each other . . . not to
confess others' sins to each other. There's another
name for this. It's gossip. The Bible condemns it.

When it comes to Christian growth groups, rule number
one is, "Confess nobody's sins but your own. Period."
True, in life there are times when a leader's behavior
needs to be confronted, but before we do it, let's make
sure our own life is squeaky clean, that our own sins
are confessed and resolved, and that our life is right
with God.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please deliver me from the
sin of gossip. Help me to see my own sins and faults,
confess these to a trusted friend and to you, and with
your help overcome these. And help me always to live
and abide by Christian ethics. Thank you for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."

1. James 5:16 (NIV).
2. Josephson, Michael, Character Counts, 553.1,
http://charactercounts.org/michael/the_nature_of_character/.

<)))><    
  
  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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Boundaries: What Part of NO Don't You Understand?  

"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who
were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables
of the money changers and the benches of those selling
doves."1

A Daily Encounter reader writes in response to one of
our messages on being peacemakers: "As you know,
meaningful relationships require boundaries. Sometimes
this means letting the other person know you are
offended even if they do not react the way you might
wish. At times keeping your boundaries may even mean
terminating an unhealthy relationship.

"But what about when the relationship is one you cannot
terminate, say with a parent, spouse, or other family
member who is also a Christian? I am not speaking of
blatant abuse situations but the gray areas in which a
lot of people, including myself, often find ourselves.
What about when parents have deep unresolved anger and
hurt which they will not confront and resolve, so they
wind up projecting it onto their children--including
their adult children?

"So where is the line? How do you honor your parents
and keep your boundaries?"

True, the Bible does say we are to honor and obey our
parents, but it never says that we are to accept
everything they, or anybody else, do to us, or ask us
to do.

Meekness isn't weakness. Jesus, of course, is the prime
example of one who had healthy boundaries. He didn't
allow anyone to do anything to him without his
permission, nor did he always meet the expectations of
his parents. And he always confronted evil and
wrongdoing.

So, while we are also told in the Bible to obey our
parents and our leaders, when they, or anyone else, are
abusive, evil, or do wrong, the higher law for us to
follow is the law of God--and that is always to do the
right thing. At times this will require tough love and
saying "no" to anyone who would mistreat or abuse us,
and who are being boundary busters with us.

When Peter and the other apostles were commanded by the
religious leaders not to preach about Jesus, Peter
said, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts
5:29). And they kept preaching.

And think how Jesus handled the religious Pharisees and
those who abused the house of God (the temple) and were
ripping off the poor. He drove them out of the temple
with a whip and called them a brood of vipers!

If we ask ourselves the question, "What would Jesus
do?" in every situation in which we find ourselves and
could discern the correct answer, we would know what to
do. And then we would need to ask him for the courage
to help us to do it.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for Jesus who is
the prime example for us to follow in every situation .
. . whether warm and compassionate or angry at evil.
Please help me to know what you would do in every
confusing situation in which I find myself--and please
give me the courage to do that without being controlled
by false guilt or what others might think of me. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus' name, amen."

1. Jesus in Matthew 21:12 (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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

When the Helper Needs Help  

"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so
much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast,
saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner.'"1

King Duncan tells about the story of a manager of a
ten-story office building who was informed that a man
was trapped in an elevator between the second and third
floors. The manager rushed to the grill work under the
stalled car and called to the passenger, "Keep cool,
sir; we'll have you out soon. I've phoned for the
elevator mechanic."

There was a brief pause and a tense voice replied, "I
am the elevator mechanic."2

Many of us, especially we men, even when we are trapped
find it very difficult to say, "I have a problem. I
need help." As a result, we pay a high price for our
stubborn independence.

When it comes to our spiritual wellbeing and life
beyond the grave, many, if not most, people figure that
if they have done enough good things to outweigh the
bad things they have done, that this will qualify them
for entering God's heaven. In other words we want to
save ourselves, which is akin to a drowning man trying
to save himself by picking himself up out of the water.

Vance Havner used to say how the world's a goner. It's
a sinking ship. God's goal isn't to save the world but
to save lost sinners from the sinking ship that is
drowning in an ocean of sin and degradation. Only the
ones who admit that they are a lost sinner and cry for
God to save them can be saved for all eternity.

We simply cannot save ourselves. That's why Jesus came
to die on the cross in our place--to pay the penalty
for all our sins so we could be freely forgiven and
given God's gift of eternal life. The prayer God loves
to hear is, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I acknowledge that I am a
sinner and cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is
the Son of God and that he died on the cross for my
sins. Have mercy on me and save me. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

For further help be sure to read "How to Be Sure You're
a Real Christian" at:
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

1. Luke 18:13 (NKJV).
2. King Duncan 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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

  
Today's Daily Encounter

Pursue Peace  

"Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual
up-building."1

"I know what makes him tick, and I know what ticks him
off!" These were the words of a speaker I heard when
talking about her relationship with her husband--with
whom, by the way, she had a very good relationship.

Clever lady. Smart wife!

For couples, and friends for that matter, to relate
well to each other--and to build each other up--each
needs to know how the other ticks; that is, understand
each other. First though, we need to know and
understand ourselves . . . and know what ticks us off
and why we get ticked off (get angry)!

There are some things we ought to get angry about, such
as at anything that is harmful to others. But
oftentimes we get angry--and overreact--not because of
what the other person has done, but because of who we
are. In other words, when I have a lot of unresolved
hurt and anger from the past, it can get triggered by
the slightest incident and I overreact!

What the other person does may or may not be a problem,
but my hurt and my anger are always my responsibility.
And to the degree that I overreact, that is always my
problem!

So we need to know not only what ticks us and each
other off, but also why we get ticked off . . . and
what we need to do about it if we are to have
fulfilling and meaningful relationships.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to know,
understand and accept myself, so I will be much more
understanding and accepting of others. And help me to
face and resolve my character issues and be a
peacemaker and not a troublemaker. Thank you for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. Romans 14:19 (RSV) (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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Strike Three and You're IN!  

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and
straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the
goal to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus."1

Motivational speakers ask the question, "What would you
like to do if you knew for certain that you couldn't
fail?" Good question. I'm sure that many a life's
dream, hope, and/or ambition is lost because of the
fear of failure.

Perhaps a better question to ask is: "So what if you do
fail?" What is the worst thing that could happen?
Ninety-nine percent of the time you could learn from
the experience and be better qualified to try again. I
doubt if there is anyone who has succeeded in
fulfilling their life's dream and goals who hasn't
experienced failure--or even many failures before they
succeeded. 

What we need to realize is that there is no shame in
failure. As another has said, "Low aim, not failure, is
a 'crime.'" In fact, failure can be our greatest
teacher. It's only as we are willing to risk failure
that we can ever succeed and become a true winner.
Remember, too, that failure is an event not a person.
The only real failure is not to get up and keep trying
one more time than we fall or get knocked down. In
baseball it may be strike three and you're out. Not so
for a successful life where it is: 

     Strike Three and You're In!

     We only succeed when
     we're willing to fail;
     We only score goals when
     we're willing to be tackled;
     We only hit home runs when 
     we're willing to strike out;
     And we only win when 
     we're willing to risk failing.

     Consider the high jumper who
     only discovers how high he can jump
     when he reaches his failure point.
     Consider Babe Ruth, too,
     the year he broke the world record
     for hitting the most home runs,
     he also broke the record 
     for scoring the most strike-outs!

     Success, however exhilarating,
     doesn't teach one how to be a winner.
     In fact, failure is the greatest teacher
     to help one win in the game of life.
     So, if you want to hit home runs,
     stand at the plate, start swinging,
     be willing to strike out -
     and begin winning!

                        - Dick Innes
                        Copyright 2000 Dick Innes

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to discover my
God-given life purpose and goal and pursue it with all
my heart and strength--and never give up--knowing that
failures are a part of the learning experience. Help me
to remember, too, regarding any goal/purpose that is
Your will for my life, that with Your help there is
always a way to achieve it. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV).
Note: For more poems by Dick go to
http://tinyurl.com/poems-rwi.

<)))><    
  
  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
  
  ACTS International
  P.O. Box 73545
  San Clemente, California 92673-0119
  U.S.A.
  
  Phone: 949-940-9050  
  http://www.actsweb.org 
  
  Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International. 
  
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
  ACTS International.