Daily Encounter with: ACTS International

Today's Daily Encounter

Test the Spirits  

John the disciple of Jesus wrote, "Do not believe every
spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are
from God."1

How can we be sure when and if God is speaking to us?

When I was a young Christian I wanted to serve God and
sometimes felt his Spirit was telling me to do
something. However, this "still small voice" within
sometimes had me in bondage. In time I came to see that
this "voice" was not from God at all because "where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom [liberty]"2 and
I had anything but freedom.

One’s inner "voice" can come from God, from our self,
or from the tempter. If the tempter knows he can't pull
us down into acting out in sinful behaviors, he may try
to "push us over the top" where we become (as the old
saying goes) "so heavenly minded we are of little or no
earthly use."

So how can we know where the inner voice is coming
from? Is it a conviction from God’s Spirit? Could it be
a neurotic compulsion from within my self? Or is it
from the tempter? With a conviction from God I always
have the freedom to say no because “where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is freedom."2 With a compulsion I am
driven and feel that I “have to" do what the "inner
voice" is saying no matter what. If from the tempter,
it is also more a compulsion.

Keep in mind that God speaks to us through His Word,
the Bible, and never contrary to it. He also speaks or
leads through various circumstances, as well as through
inner convictions. If it is from God, it will always be
in harmony with His Word and there will be a sense of
freedom. If it is contrary to God's Word or any type of
compulsion, we can know it isn't God speaking to us and
we need to reject it.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the wisdom
to know when You are ‘speaking’ to or leading me, and
when the ‘voice’ I hear is from myself or the tempter.
Teach me to not only know Your voice but always to obey
it. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen."

1. 1 John 4:1 (NIV).
2. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV).

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Today's Daily Encounter

Postmodernism  

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set
you free."1

Sometimes it can be very difficult trying to understand
the spirit of our age that has been described by some
as a day of postmodernism. But what is postmodernism?

The following insights by Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M.
Bowman Jr., in their book, 20 Compelling Evidences That
God Exists, help me to understand a little of what is
happening in today’s secular world. And to help
understand post modernism Boa and Bowman summarize the
major characteristics by using the acrostic P-O-S-T.

P-Power Controls Knowledge: “According to
postmodernists, all knowledge is political. That is,
what people believe is shaped largely by their
relationship to the political powers that govern the
institutions (such as schools and churches) through
which knowledge is transmitted."2

O-Objectivity Is Dead: “Different cultures, different
religions, and other types of communities have
different perspectives that give them their identity.
Postmodernists contend that these different
perspectives should be celebrated and preserved, not
challenged or critiqued."3

S-Science Constructs Models; It Does Not Describe
Reality: In contrast to science being an understanding
of the world as it really is “Thomas Kuhn’s 1962
landmark book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
itself led a revolution in science…. Kuhn has convinced
a generation that science cannot and need not seek
truth; its goal is rather an understanding of nature
that meets the needs of the scientific community and of
the larger society. Such a view of science, of course,
implies that scientific theories are now to be assessed
partly in terms of how well they support the values of
those who pursue science."4

T-Tolerance, Not Truth, Is Absolute: “The postmodernist
understands tolerance to mean accepting people’s
different beliefs and therefore refraining from
criticizing or even disagreeing with those beliefs.
Postmodernists are especially bothered by claims that a
particular religious or ethical belief is the truth
that all people ought to accept. Rather than examining
such claims to see whether they hold up in light of the
facts, postmodernists dismiss such claims as arrogant,
narrow-minded, and intolerant."5

Tragically, if we don’t correct course, postmodern
political correctness will ultimately destroy us.
Without access to the truth there is no reality, no
freedom, no sense of direction, and no hope of
salvation for mankind. No wonder so much of today’s
world is floating in a sea of mass confusion. While we
don’t agree with postmodernism, we do need to
understand its basic tenets so we don’t get sucked into
its empty, meaningless void.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me discern the
difference between what is truth and what is
meaningless rationalization used to justify what
postmodernists want me to believe. Help me always to
base my beliefs on principles that are found in, and/or
in harmony with, Your eternal Word, the Bible. Thank
You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus's name, amen."

1. Jesus, in John 8:32 (NIV).
2.  Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M. Bowman Jr., in their
book, 20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists, Victor,
Cook Communications Ministries, Colorado Springs,
Colorado. p. 18.
3. Ibid, p. 19.
4. Ibid, p. 19.
5. Ibid, p. 19.

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Today's Daily Encounter
Do It Today  

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ."1

"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good
thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I
can show to any fellow-creature, let me do it now; let
me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this
way again." This timely advice is attributed to Stephen
Grellet, Franco-American Quaker (1773-1855).

John, one of Jesus' disciples, wrote, "Let us stop just
saying we love people; let us really love them, and
show it by our actions."2

Do you need to make a phone call, send a card, or do
something special for your wife, husband, children,
friend, or neighbor? If so, do it today. Do you need to
resolve an impaired relationship? Do it today. Do you
need to take care of that responsibility you've been
putting off for weeks/months? Do it today. Do you need
to tell someone how much you love them? Do it today.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please use me to be as
Jesus to the people in my world. Today. Help me to be a
part of what You are doing in the world. Today.
Whatever loving deeds I need to do or responsibility to
fulfill help me to do it today. Thank You for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name,
amen."

1. Paul the Apostle, Galatians 6:2 (RSV).
2. 1 John 3:18 (TLB).

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  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
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Today's Daily Encounter
Sweet Revenge?  

"He who has been forgiven little loves little."1

In Today in the Word the story is told about a woman
who once came to Ibn Saud, the first king of Saudi
Arabia, requesting that the man who killed her husband
be put to death. The man had fallen from the top of a
palm tree when he had been gathering dates and landed
on this lady's husband and killed him.

The king said, "It is your right to exact compensation,
and it is also your right to ask for this man's life.
But it is my right to decree how he shall die. You
shall take this man with you and he shall be tied to
the foot of a palm tree and then you shall climb to the
top of the tree and cast yourself down upon him from
that height. In that way you will take his life as he
took your husband's. Or perhaps," Ibn Saud added, "you
would prefer after all to take the blood money?"

The widow took the money.vTo fail to forgive keeps us
bound to the past. It is a killer--not of the one who
caused the resentment, but the one who carries the
resentment. As another has put it, “Failing to forgive
is like drinking poison and waiting for the other
person to die."

Also, as Jesus said, "He who has been forgiven little
loves little." One way to love much, therefore, is to
confess all our wrongs and sins, not only to God, but
to the one/s we have hurt and do all we can to make
restitution and be forgiven ourselves. For he who has
been forgiven much loves much!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to confess
all my sins and ways I have hurt others (name them),
and find forgiveness from You and them so I will love
much and freely forgive all who have hurt me--as You
have freely forgiven me. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen."

1. Jesus in Luke 7:47 (NIV).

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  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
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Today's Daily Encounter

Where Was God on 9-11-01?  

"Where have you laid him [Lazarus]?" He [Jesus] asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied. Jesus wept. Then
the Jews said, "See how He loved him."1

The question: Where was God when my baby sister died
suddenly? When my husband died in the prime of life?
When my child was kidnapped, raped, and murdered? The
question is as old as Job and as fresh as today. So
many asked where was God on this day--September 11,
2001--when terrorists destroyed the New York trade
towers and smashed into the Pentagon killing some three
thousand people.

So where was God? God was and is where He always is. He
saw it all. As Jesus wept when His friend Lazarus died,
so also He wept grievously on this tragic day as He
does when all senseless tragedies happen.

Did God cause it to happen? No, never! Did He know it
would happen? Yes. Why didn't He stop it? And why
didn't He stop Hitler massacring millions of Jews, and
why didn't He stop Stalin and others who have
slaughtered millions? And why doesn't He stop rapists,
kidnappers, and murderers ... and terrorists ... and
suicide bombers ... and all wars?

For the simple reason that He has given mankind a free
will to choose--either to follow and obey Him or to go
our own sinful, and often evil way. It's mankind's
choice. It is every single individual's choice. God
never created or wanted puppets on a string. Every one
of us has been given a free will. The fact is that God
is where He always was. He never left us. We, as a
human race, left Him. When tragedies occur, the
question shouldn’t be, "Where is God?" Rather it should
be, "Where are we?"

However, when we choose and go the way of evil, the
heart of God grieves. In fact, because God cared for
and loved us so much is the reason why He gave his Son,
the Lord Jesus Christ, to die to pay the penalty for
all our sins and deliver us from evil and from sin's
eternal consequences--hell and eternal separation from
Him--the source of all love and life.

Yes, Jesus wept on this day in 2001, and I believe He
grieved with the thousands of others who also grieved
on this day because their heart was torn with grief.
And He still grieves with all who are suffering today
and every day because of mankind's acts of senseless
evil. And He grieves for all lost souls who could
freely receive God’s forgiveness for all their sins,
but they refuse or fail to do so. 

As the hymn writer expressed in words to this effect:

    Does Jesus care?
    O yes he cares,
    His heart is touched with my grief,
    The long hours weary,
    So sad and dreary,
    I know my Savior cares.

Suggested prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that
when I hurt, You feel my pain and grieve with me. Thank
You, too, that You also grieve when evil in the world
is unleashed and people are struck down in the prime of
life. And thank You that You have the gift of
forgiveness and salvation for all who come to You
confessing their sinfulness and their need to be
ultimately delivered from all the evil in the world.
Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

NOTE: For help to be absolutely sure you're a real
Christian (without having to be religious) click on the
"Know God" button below or on:
http://tinyurl.com/8glq9. 

1. John 11:34-36 (NIV).

<)))><    

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  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
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Today's Daily Encounter

A Harmless "Dangerous" Dog  

“The sluggard says, 'There is a lion in the road, a
fierce lion roaming the streets!' As a door turns on
its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. The
sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to
bring it back to his mouth."1

Alan Smith in his “Thought for the Day" tells about the
man who, upon entering the little country store,
noticed a sign saying, “Danger! Beware of the Dog!"
posted on the glass door. Inside he noticed a harmless
old hound dog asleep on the floor beside the cash
register.

He asked the store manager, “Is that the dog folks are
supposed to beware of?"

"Yep, that's him," he replied.

The stranger couldn't help but be amused. “That
certainly doesn't look like a dangerous dog to me. Why
in the world would you post that sign?"

"Because," said the owner, “before I posted that sign
people kept tripping over him."2

I’m sure that most people reading this Daily Encounter
aren’t lazy in their everyday life, but sometimes when
it comes to the church there’s almost always a
trouble-maker or two, a control freak, or someone who
is quick to criticize but never does a thing to lift a
helping hand and, like the “dog" in the store mentioned
above, just hangs around and gets in the way.

Let’s always remember that if we criticize and don’t do
anything to help in some way, we don’t have a right to
criticize; rather we could at least offer and try to
help. He who can and does, does well; but he who can
and doesn’t do, very often is the one who criticizes!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a
doer and a good helper in the work You want done in the
world in which I live, and also help in some way in the
wider world. Thank You for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen."

1. Proverbs 26:13-15 (NIV).
2. Alan Smith, “Thought for the Day,"
http://www.tftd-online.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.
  
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  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
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Today's Daily Encounter

Just Do It  

"You are to go into all the world and preach
[communicate] the good news to everyone everywhere."1

One writer pointed out that there is a scene in "Winnie
the Pooh" that goes something like the following:

Pooh: "Did you fall into the river, Eeyore?"

Eeyore: "Silly of me, wasn't it?"

Pooh: "Is the river uncomfortable this morning?"

Eeyore: "Well, yes, the dampness you know."

Pooh: "You really ought to be more careful!"

Eeyore: "Thanks for the advice."

Pooh: "I think you're sinking."Eeyore: "Pooh, if it's
not too much trouble, would you mind rescuing me?"

How sad when people all around us are lost without
Christ and we discuss outreach, form outreach
committees, conduct seminars on outreach, read books
about outreach, and do everything in the church except
outreach.

As somebody else said, "If you see a dangerous,
poisonous snake, just kill it. Don't appoint a
committee on snakes! Just do it!"

Good advice for many areas of life--including reaching
the lost with the saving gospel of the Jesus Christ as
He so commissioned us to do! For a very simple and
attractive way to help do this please see
http://www.actsweb.org/people_power_invite.php.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be a
doer of Your Word and not just a hearer or a talker.
Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen."

1. Jesus, in Mark 16:15 (TLB).

<)))><    
  
  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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Today's Daily Encounter

Sound Doctrine  

The Apostle Paul wrote, "He must hold firmly to the
trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he
can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those
who oppose it."1

In the early days of the Christian church Paul was
giving instructions to Titus regarding qualifications
for church leadership. One requirement was that leaders
were to be well established in sound doctrine; that is,
in the understanding and teaching of God's Word.
Unfortunately, there are some leaders and some churches
whose doctrine may be sound, but as Vance Havner put
it, sound asleep! Sound awake doctrine is critical
because if we are not well grounded in God's truth, we
can easily be led astray by persuasive and charming
false teachers. As another has said, "If we don't stand
for truth, we can fall for anything."

Sound doctrine, as critically important as it is, is
not enough in and of itself. It needs to be balanced
with love. Without love, doctrine can become deathly
legalism or modern day Phariseeism. On the other hand,
love without sound doctrine can become, at best,
"sloppy agape" and at worst empty humanism. The real
church and true Christianity is based on God's truth
(sound doctrine) and genuine love. Both are equally
important.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to know and
understand Your truth but give me a loving heart to
live it as well as to learn it. Thank You for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name,
amen."

1. Titus 1:9 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
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  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
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  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
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Today's Daily Encounter

Should I Marry an Angry Man?  
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all generously and without reproach, and
it will be given to him."1

A Daily Encounter reader asks, "I just broke my
engagement with a man whom I deeply loved. We have had
a lot of problems and when he gets angry, he is out of
control and says very hurtful words. He wants us to get
back together but I am very confused. How can I know
God's will?"

Dear Joanne (name changed), it is true that broken
engagements and broken relationships can be incredibly
painful. I know. I've been there. However, to discern
God's will in these matters it might be wise to first
ask, "What is not God's will?" In answering this
question, you can be certain that it isn't God's will
for you to allow anyone to abuse you. People who do are
almost always codependent; that is, they have a need to
"fix" others in order to avoid facing and "fixing"
their own problems.

Second, you can be certain that God's will is that you
first work on your own growth and maturity. There is a
reason why you were attracted to an angry man. For
instance, was your father an angry man by any chance?
Whatever the reason, it is imperative that you ask God
to face you with the truth about yourself, and to show
you the issues in your life that you need to resolve.
Furthermore, what we fail to resolve we are destined to
repeat.

While God doesn't make our decisions for us, He will
give us wisdom if we ask Him for it.Obviously we need
to be very wise in such situations and not allow
ourselves tobe controlled by our heart alone. The
reality is that as long as this man has aserious anger
problem, anyone who marries him will be heading for
futureheartache and disaster.

Unless this man gets into an in-depth anger management
counseling program (that probably isn't likely) to
resolve his anger problem, it is imperative that you
don't go back to him. And even if he does get into such
a counseling program, you would need to have absolute
assurance from his counselor that he has resolved his
anger (and any other relational problem/s).

Much wiser for you to resolve your hurt and move on
without this man in your life. Better to feel hurt and
disappointed now than suffer for the rest of your life.
I trust these suggestions will help.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in every painful situation
please give me the wisdom to see, first of all, what I
am contributing to the problem, and the good sense to
resolve my own issues first. And then help me to see
the overall truth of the conflict I am in so I will
know exactly what I need to do. Thank You for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

1. James 1:5 (NASB).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
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  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
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Today's Daily Encounter

Songs in the Night  

Job asked, "Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in
the night?"1

I have read how Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the
world's greatest musicians, was born into a musical
family in Germany.

By the age of eleven he was already composing his own
music and conducting an orchestra. In his late teens he
went to Vienna for further study. There he reached
fame, though not fortune.

According to the story, one evening when Beethoven
visited in a cobbler’s house, he noticed that the young
lady at the piano was blind, so he offered to play the
piece for her. He did so for her for more than an hour
and while he did, darkness fell and the lone candle in
the room had gone out.

Outside in the night sky the moon shone brightly and
sent its radiant beams glistening into the room where
Beethoven sat playing beautiful music. He was so
inspired by the appreciation of his music by the young
lady and the beauty of the atmosphere in the room that
he composed his famous "Moonlight Sonata."

Do you ever feel that your dreams have been shattered
and you feel all alone in the darkness of despair? I
certainly have. However, when our life is committed to
Christ, it's in these "dark nights of the soul" that
God is working in us to give us more understanding of
life and compassion for others, and in time will bring
back “beautiful music" into our life.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please put a song in my
heart, a song of gratitude and love for You for all
that You have done for and given to me. Thank You for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s
name, amen."

1. Job 35:10 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Heartprints of Kindness  

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving
each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."1 "He
who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."2

William Wordsworth also said it well: "That best
portion of a good man's life; his little, nameless,
unremembered acts of kindness and love."

The following well-known anonymous poem is well worth a
reminder:

    "Whatever our hands touch -
    We leave fingerprints!
    On walls, on furniture
    On doorknobs, dishes, books.
    There's no escape.
    As we touch we leave our identity."

So for today's suggested prayer: "Dear God:

    'Wherever I go today
    Help me leave heartprints!
    Heartprints of compassion
    Of understanding and love.

    'Heartprints of kindness
    And genuine concern.
    May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
    Or a runaway daughter
    Or an anxious mother
    Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

    'Send me out today
    To leave heartprints.
    And if someone should say,
    "I felt your touch,"
    May they also sense the love
    that is deep within my heart.'3

"Thank You God for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV).
2. Proverbs 14:31 (NIV).
3. Author Unknown

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Arm-Twisting for God  

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits to see whether they are from God, because
many false prophets have gone out into the world."1

Some time ago I was a lay leader in my local church. On
more than one occasion a fellow lay leader (who claimed
to have the spiritual gift of discernment), in
important leadership meetings, would state at the very
beginning of the meeting that God had told him how the
matter at hand was to be.

End of discussion? Who can argue against what God has
said? At one meeting where we were discussing the
future of the church, as graciously as I could I said,
"God hasn't told me how it should be so can we discuss
this matter." Fortunately we did. At the time the
church was land-locked without any room for growth.
After lengthy discussion it was decided to consider
relocation. Today it is now a thriving church in a new
and excellent location.

Yes, I believe in the importance of spiritual gifts.
However, all who claim to have certain spiritual gifts
do not necessarily have them. God's Word tells us to
test the spirits to see if they are of God or
otherwise.

Unfortunately, because of immaturity, insecurity and
needing attention, some folk are guilty of arm-twisting
for God; that is, they use God-talk in order to gain
attention, to be in control, to get their own way,
and/or to feel important. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be
courageously honest with myself and You and never be
guilty of 'arm-twisting' in Your name in order to gain
attention or to get my own way. And please give me a
discerning spirit so that I will know what is from You
and what is not. Thank You for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. 1 John 4:1 (NIV).

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

  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Success  

The Apostle Paul said, "I press on toward the goal to
win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus."1

Success has been well defined as "the ability to
embrace a worthwhile goal and then employ all of your
powers for the achievement of that goal."

Having a goal is the first step in the success of
anything. Without a specific goal it is all too easy to
go every-which-way with one's endeavors and thereby
dissipate one's energies. And, if we're not careful, we
can end up not accomplishing anything worthwhile with
our life. We become like the proverbial marksman who
shoots first and then draws a bull's eye around where
he hit in a vain attempt to seek to convince himself
and others what a good marksman he is!

According to motivational speakers, only about three
percent of people have a major goal for their life.
This shouldn't be true of Christians because God has a
major life goal for every one of us. That goal will put
to good use our God-given talents in serving others
because we serve God by serving people.

It helps to clearly define our major goal in life by
writing it out as often as possible. This helps to
instill it in our unconscious mind that, in turn, helps
us almost to go on automatic pilot so we, too, like
Paul, will press toward our God-given life goal.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to discover the
God-given major goal for my life and give me the
motivation, direction and help I need to fulfill it for
Your glory. Thank You for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Philippians 3:14 (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.
  
  * * * *
  
  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International.
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
No Greater Love  

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down
his life for his friends."1

Maxwell Maltz tells the story of a man who'd been
severely injured while attempting to rescue his parents
from a fire. His heroic efforts proved to be in vain,
though. His mom and dad died in the burning house.

During his rescue attempt the fire badly scorched his
face and disfigured it. He was so ashamed of his
appearance that he refused to allow anyone--including
his wife--to see his face.

For help, his wife went to Maltz, a plastic surgeon.
"Not to worry," he assured her, "I can restore his
face."

Despite the good news, the wife still felt
disheartened. Her husband had always refused any
medical treatment. Assuming he wouldn't change his
mind, she said to Maltz, "I want you to disfigure my
face so I can be like him! If I can share in his pain,
then maybe he will let me back into his life."

Maltz tried to mask his horror at the request. He
refused to perform the operation, but was so moved by
this woman's love for her husband that he went to visit
her husband. Through closed door, he yelled, "I'm a
plastic surgeon. I want you to know that I can restore
your face."

No reply.

"Please, won't you come out? At least let me see your
face. At least talk to me."

Silence.

Still speaking through a door, Maltz told the man of
his wife's request. "She wants me to mutilate her face
in order to make her face like yours. She hopes that
you will then let her back into your life. That's how
much she loves you."

Ever so slowly the doorknob turned.2

True, it must be extremely painful to be disfigured and
feel that no one will ever accept you. May God help all
of us, including me, to love and accept those who
suffer so.

At the same time it is important that each of us
realizes how totally repulsive our sinfulness is to God
because he is a God of absolute holiness. In spite of
this he loves and accepts us unconditionally. God also
hates our sin because it is totally destructive of
those whom he loves--us. But because of his great love
for us, God gave his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to
pay the penalty for all our sin so we can be totally
"healed from sin's deathly disfigurement," and be
freely forgiven and saved from sin's deadly
consequences--eternal separation from God, the author
of all love and life.

If you have never accepted God's love and forgiveness,
I urge you to do that today. For help read "How to Find
and Know God" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that, in spite
of the ugliness of my sinfulness, You love and accept
me totally and unconditionally. Help me to truly
appreciate what You have done for me and live a life
that will bring honor to Your name. Thank You for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's
name, amen."

1. John 15:13 (NIV).
2. Maxie Dunnam, 'This Is Christianity' (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 1994), pp. 60-61,
http://isbn.nu/0687084105. Cited on WITandWISDOM,
www.witandwisdom.org.

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

  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
   When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

On Ducks and Eagles  

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those
who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good
tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your
God reigns!'"1

Jim Rohn said, "The first rule of management is this:
Don't send your ducks to eagle school. Why? Because it
won't work. Good people are found not changed. They can
change themselves, but you can't change them. You want
good people, you have to find them. If you want
motivated people, you have to find them, not motivate
them.

"I picked up a magazine not long ago in New York that
had a full-page ad in it for a hotel chain. The first
line of the ad read, "We do not teach our people to be
nice." Now that got my attention. The second line said,
"We hire nice people." I thought, "What a clever
shortcut!"2

In spite of the spin of the daily news--emphasizing
mostly bad news in the world around us while neglecting
most of the good news--God is at work in today's world.
He does have a plan and is looking for motivated people
to do his work here on earth--to stand in the gap to
"proclaim salvation" and save lost souls--for it is
only motivated people who get God's work done. The
half-hearted never make it.

Motivation comes from within--from people who are
genuinely committed to Christ and desire to see God's
work on earth done--and get involved in doing it.

You, too, can have a vital role in what God is doing in
the world today--the world in which you live. There is
no greater privilege on earth ... no greater reward in
heaven ... and no greater way to invest your life for
time and eternity--than to be a part of God's plan and
what he is doing in your world today. Sometimes it
takes involvement to get motivated.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that you use
ordinary people to do Your work on earth. I'm available
to stand in the gap where I live. Please use me to be a
part of Your plan and help me to be 'as Jesus' in some
way to every life I touch--every day. Thank You for
this wonderful privilege, and thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

1. Isaiah 52:7 (NIV).
2. Jim Rohn, excerpted from 'Leading an Inspired Life,'
Cited on From the Masters www.beliefnet.com

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * *
  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Did I Make a Difference--Did You?  

"Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my
sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek
justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of
orphans. Fight for the rights of widows."1

On a recent Saturday night Joy and I were relaxing at
home listening to gospel music and heard the Oakridge
Boys singing; "Did I Make a Difference?" The words were
very inspiring and challenging. Following are some of
the lyrics:

   "I'm caught up in the push and shove,
   The daily grind, burning time, spinning wheels,
   I wonder what I'm doing here, 
   Day to day, year to year, standing still.
   Somewhere there's a teacher with a heart that never 
       quits,
   Staying after school to help some inner city kids,
   A mother who's a volunteer, a soldier in the fight,
   I can't help but ask myself when I lay down at 
       night.

   "Did I make a difference in somebody's life?
   What hurts did I heal? What wrongs did I right?
   Did I raise my voice in defense of the truth?
   Did I lend my hand to the destitute?
   When my race is run, when my song is sung,
   Will I have to wonder, did I make a difference?
   Did I make a difference?"2

Dear reader, when your race of life is run and you come
to the end of life's journey and look back on your
life, will you be able to say that you have made a
difference in somebody's life, and in the world in
which you lived? Or when you stand before the Master,
Jesus, to give an account of your life,* will you be
able to say with confidence that you made a difference
with your life? And will I? Let's make absolutely
certain that you and I will truly be able to say, "Yes,
by the grace of God, I did make a difference."

The good news is that if you want to make a difference,
you can. Just make yourself available to God every day
to use you as He pleases!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, again today I surrender my
heart and life to You. Please help me to so live today
and every day in such a way--to be 'as Jesus' in some
way to every life I touch--so that my life will make a
difference in somebody's life, and also in the world in
which I live. And please grant that by Your grace when
I stand before Your judgment seat to give an account of
my life, I will not be empty handed, but will hear Youe
welcoming words, 'Well done, good and faithful servant,
your life made a difference in many people's lives,
enter into the joy of your Lord.' Thank You for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

*"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, that each one may receive the things done in
the body, according to what he has done, whether good
or bad."3 

1. Isaiah 1:16-17 (NLT).
2. http://tinyurl.com/kxac9je
3. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (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.
  
  * * * *
 
  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Life Has an Expiration Date  

"It is appointed for men to die once, but after this
the judgment."1

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also."2 

"Life Has an Expiration Date" was a statement that I
read on somebody else's email but I don't know whom to
credit it to. However, it is an excellent reminder that
life is short and we only have one life to live and
invest.

I would like to again quote one of my many favorite
one-liners from William Penn, the 18/19th-century
French/American religious leader who said, "I expect to
pass through the world but once. Any good therefore
that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any
creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I
shall not pass this way again."

Penn's words bring to mind one of my good friends who
died at age 44 from cancer. I was with Graham shortly
before he passed away and asked him how he felt being
only 44 and given only a matter of a few months at best
to live. One of the unforgettable things he spoke about
was how difficult it was for him when some friends who
visited him in the hospital rattled on with empty
words, or said "the right thing" but without feeling or
heart. He was dying and to him their words were empty,
meaningless clichés. He wanted to talk about life,
death, and being ready to meet God face to face--and
issues that mattered.

He also said how angry he was because there were so
many things he didn't get done and still wanted to
do--but his time was up and he would never get them
done. This was one of his big regrets. But his main
regret was that he felt he hadn't spent enough time
with his kids and family.

Graham's words remind me how temporal life is. None of
us has any guarantee of tomorrow, so (not being
fanatical about it) we do need to live every day with
eternal values in mind.

So, do you have any unfinished business? Any impaired
relationships that you can and need to resolve? Anyone
you need to let know how much you love them? May I
kindly suggest that you do it today! And, above all, do
you need to get right with God? This I urge upon you to
do today--now.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to remember
the words of the poet who said, 'Only one life, 'twill
soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last,'
and, with Your help, live life to the fullest--with
eternal values uppermost in my mind. Thank You for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's
name, amen."

NOTE: To be sure your life is right with God read, "How
to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at:
http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV).
2. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * *
  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

The Weakness of the "Strong"  

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care,
serving as overseers--not because you must, but because
you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for
money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those
entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."1

It happens in clubs, churches, at work, on committees,
and pretty much wherever people are involved in any
kind of work or planning group. Often there is at least
one so-called strong person who has a need to be in
control--and "lord it" over the others. 

The fact is that some of the people we call strong;
that is, domineering and controlling people, are
anything but strong. They are control freaks because
they are immature and insecure. The only way they feel
secure is when they are in control. They are difficult
to work with, to plan with, and even more so to live
with. 

Jesus gives us the perfect example on how to live and
lead. He always spoke with authority but was never
authoritarian or controlling. He had true strength,
which never has a need to control or lord it over
others. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please deliver me from the
sin of controlling and seeking to 'lord it over
others.' If I should ever do this, help me to see that
this is not a sign of strength but a symptom of
weakness and insecurity, and then get the help I need
to overcome my problem. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's 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.
  
  * * * * * * * 

  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Come and See  

"Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, 'We
have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote
about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from
Nazareth.' 'Nazareth!' exclaimed Nathanael. 'Can
anything good come from Nazareth?' 'Come and see for
yourself,' Philip replied."1

"A Mercedes TV commercial a few years ago showed a
Mercedes crashing into a concrete wall during a safety
test. An engineer in a white lab coat walks over after
the crash and kneels down to examine the damage, which
is minimal. A reporter then asks the engineer about
Mercedes' energy absorbing car body. After the engineer
tells all about the unique design, the reporter asks
him why Mercedes doesn't enforce their patent on the
design, a design evidently copied by several other
companies because of its success.

"The engineer then replied matter-of-factly, 'Because
some things in life are too important not to share.'

"How true this is. There are many things in life that
fall into this 'too important not to share category.'
Advances in science, in medicine, in technology. But
all of these pale in importance to that of sharing the
gospel."2

As Billy Graham said, "I am convinced the greatest act
of love we can ever perform for people is to tell them
about God's love for them in Christ." 

Whenever I eat at a restaurant, I always leave one of
my business witness cards, "Thank you for your friendly
service," with the tip, and whenever the opportunity
arrives (without being pushy), I ask the person I am
visiting with if I may give him or her one of my
cards--one that is suitable as we have a variety. Each
card has a link to a website that has many articles
that address the felt needs of the average person and a
link to the clear gospel message, "How to Be Sure
You're a Real Christian--without having to be
religious." 

The only person who has ever refused to accept one of
my cards was, of all people, a man at my church! Most
people thank me very much for the card that I give to
them, especially the card, "Thank you for your friendly
service." 

Giving one of these cards is a very easy, attractive,
and non-offensive way to be a witness for Jesus Christ.
It is a tactful way to basically say, "Come and see
what Jesus Christ can do for you!" 

It is true, the gospel message of Jesus Christ is far
too important not to share. I encourage you to send for
a package of 50 of the ACTS business witness cards to
give to your friends and contacts. 

You can see the available cards at:
https://actscom.com/wcards_store.php and order the one
that best meets your needs from this same page. They
come in packages of 50. We charge only enough to cover
our printing and postage costs. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, with all of my fears and
weaknesses, I am available. Please use me to be an
effective witness for Jesus, and help me today to be
'as Jesus' in some way to every life I touch. And as
the opportunity arises, please give me the courage to
also invite others to 'come and see' what Jesus can do
for them either verbally or by giving them an
attractive and suitable business witness card. Thank
You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus's name, amen." 

1. John 1:45-47 (NLT).
2. Rev. Steve Jackson, Sermon: "Come and See."

P.S. If you have never met Jesus and accepted His
forgiveness for all your sins, and received His gift of
eternal life, I encourage you to also "come and see" by
reading the article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real
Christian" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * *
  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Come and See  

"Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, 'We
have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote
about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from
Nazareth.' 'Nazareth!' exclaimed Nathanael. 'Can
anything good come from Nazareth?' 'Come and see for
yourself,' Philip replied."1

"A Mercedes TV commercial a few years ago showed a
Mercedes crashing into a concrete wall during a safety
test. An engineer in a white lab coat walks over after
the crash and kneels down to examine the damage, which
is minimal. A reporter then asks the engineer about
Mercedes' energy absorbing car body. After the engineer
tells all about the unique design, the reporter asks
him why Mercedes doesn't enforce their patent on the
design, a design evidently copied by several other
companies because of its success.

"The engineer then replied matter-of-factly, 'Because
some things in life are too important not to share.'

"How true this is. There are many things in life that
fall into this 'too important not to share category.'
Advances in science, in medicine, in technology. But
all of these pale in importance to that of sharing the
gospel."2

As Billy Graham said, "I am convinced the greatest act
of love we can ever perform for people is to tell them
about God's love for them in Christ." 

Whenever I eat at a restaurant, I always leave one of
my business witness cards, "Thank you for your friendly
service," with the tip, and whenever the opportunity
arrives (without being pushy), I ask the person I am
visiting with if I may give him or her one of my
cards--one that is suitable as we have a variety. Each
card has a link to a website that has many articles
that address the felt needs of the average person and a
link to the clear gospel message, "How to Be Sure
You're a Real Christian--without having to be
religious." 

The only person who has ever refused to accept one of
my cards was, of all people, a man at my church! Most
people thank me very much for the card that I give to
them, especially the card, "Thank you for your friendly
service." 

Giving one of these cards is a very easy, attractive,
and non-offensive way to be a witness for Jesus Christ.
It is a tactful way to basically say, "Come and see
what Jesus Christ can do for you!" 

It is true, the gospel message of Jesus Christ is far
too important not to share. I encourage you to send for
a package of 50 of the ACTS business witness cards to
give to your friends and contacts. 

You can see the available cards at:
https://actscom.com/wcards_store.php and order the one
that best meets your needs from this same page. They
come in packages of 50. We charge only enough to cover
our printing and postage costs. 

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, with all of my fears and
weaknesses, I am available. Please use me to be an
effective witness for Jesus, and help me today to be
'as Jesus' in some way to every life I touch. And as
the opportunity arises, please give me the courage to
also invite others to 'come and see' what Jesus can do
for them either verbally or by giving them an
attractive and suitable business witness card. Thank
You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus's name, amen." 

1. John 1:45-47 (NLT).
2. Rev. Steve Jackson, Sermon: "Come and See."

P.S. If you have never met Jesus and accepted His
forgiveness for all your sins, and received His gift of
eternal life, I encourage you to also "come and see" by
reading the article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real
Christian" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * *
  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

The Big IF  

This edition is for professing Christians.

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

And as Jesus said to His followers, "But you will
receive power when the Holy [God's] Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."2

Recently in a Sunday morning worship service our church
congregation was singing with great enthusiasm the old
hymn: "Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is
born," while the reality is that far too many of us
don't even "go tell it" across the street. We have
excellent community services, but we mostly don't even
make any helpful gospel literature available.

I remember reading years ago the tongue-in-cheek
comment of a fellow Christian who in a take off on the
hymn, "Onward Christian Soldiers marching as to war,"
said we should really be singing, "Like a mighty
tortoise moves the church of God, brothers we are
treading where we've always trod."

The sad reality is that, according to the highly
respected Barna Research Group, the church in the
U.S.A. today is in decline. Furthermore, according to
an adjunct professor from Fuller Seminary, "The fastest
growing church in America today is the church of none."
That is, more and more people are dropping out of the
organized church.

Jesus commissioned His followers saying that they were
to "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to
everyone,"3 and again, Jesus said, "Follow me and I
will make you fishers of men."4 Thus, if we are not
actively involved in fishing for lost souls, are we
truly following Jesus?

Some years ago I prayed and in my prayer I said to God,
"I hate witnessing and I'm quitting because I am too
scared. However, God, if you want to use me, I'm
available, but You'll have to do it through me because
I'm too afraid." 

A few hours after that, I was traveling on an airplane,
sitting alone reading Hal Lindsay's book, 'The Late
Great Planet Earth.' At one point a fellow passenger
got out of his seat, sat down in the empty seat beside
me and, after introducing himself, asked me about the
book I was reading. 

I told him it was a book about the return of Christ to
earth coming for all His true followers. He asked, "Do
you believe that Christ will return to earth?" 

When I told him I did, he said, "Will you please tell
me all about it?" 

Now I love to witness like that and it all happened
because I admitted to God that I was afraid to witness,
but that I was available for God to use me to share the
gospel message with others--and I've been sharing the
gospel with mega thousands of people ever since,
primarily through the printed page, e-Mail and the
Internet. 

After all these many years I still pray the following
prayer every morning and plan to keep doing so for the
rest of my life. I encourage you to do the same:

"Dear God I am available again today. Please make me
usable and use me to be an effective witness for Jesus
today, and please help me to be 'as Jesus' in some way
to every life I touch. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name,
amen."

NOTE: for practical tips, helps and tools to easily
keep on sowing the seed of the gospel and be  an
effective witness for Jesus go to:
http://www.actsweb.org/people_power02.php

1. Ecclesiastes 12: 4, 6 (TLB).
2. Acts 1:8 (NIV).
3. Mark 16:15 (NLT).
4. Matthew 4:19 (NKJV).

<)))><    
  
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  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
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  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Overcoming Alcoholism  

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ."1

June (name changed), A Daily Encounter reader, writes,
"My daughter has been suffering from mental illness
(schizophrenia) since she was 20. She has been on
medication for 7 years. Because of her illness I took
to drinking so I could get to sleep at night. Now I'm
addicted to alcohol and can't break the habit. I've
been trying for two years to overcome but to no avail.
Can you please help?"

Unfortunately this anguished mother is not alone. In a
survey report from George Barna: "One out of every
eight (12%) noted that they are 'dealing with an
addiction' that personally haunts them."2

Following is what I suggested to June: Giving up any
addiction is never easy and you need to realize that
you can't overcome this kind of struggle in your own
strength or by going it alone. We're not meant to do
this. The Bible teaches us to "bear one another's
burdens." This is why you need the support of
understanding "fellow strugglers" such as those in an
AA (Alcohol Anonymous) support group--as well as God's
help.

Oftentimes, too, there is a deeper hidden cause behind
addictions. So I suggest that you ask God if there is a
deeper cause that he will reveal this to you. Also ask
God to lead you to the help you need to resolve this
cause as well as overcome your addiction.

I also urge you to join an AA twelve-step support group
as this can be a vital part of your recovery. For
Alcoholic Anonymous (and other addictive) Groups your
pastor, doctor or the social services in your area
should be able to tell you how to find and contact a
local AA group. Or you can get information from the AA
web site at http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/. For
additional counseling resources go to:
http://www.actsweb.org/counseling_resources.php

Whatever you do, don't try to go it alone. We all need
understanding and support at times like this. You have
taken the first step by saying, "I have a problem--I
need help." The second step (if you haven't already
done this) is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and
Savior* so you can be honest with God and pray for his
help. The third step is to join an AA twelve-step
support group. The Fourth step is to find and join a
loving, understanding and accepting church that has
support groups for struggling members. And, if
necessary, the fifth step may be to seek the help of a
qualified, well-trained professional counselor.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, whatever problem I have,
please give me the courage to admit that I have this
problem (name it) and that I need help. And please lead
me to the help I need to overcome so my life will bring
glory to Your name. Thank You for hearing and answering
my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

*NOTE. To accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and be
sure you are a real Christian go to:
http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

1. Galatians 6:2 (NKJV).
2. Barna Research Group, http://tinyurl.com/j3p5f.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
 When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
When Your Prayers Don't Get Answered  

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss,
that you may spend it on your pleasures."1

A Daily Encounter subscriber writes: "Devotions like
this instill hope that God is, yet being the doubting
Thomas that I am, I struggle with doubts. I see many
things going wrong in my life but my prayers never seem
to be answered. I feel that they fall on deaf ears, and
I have come to the conclusion that if the power of
prayer was effective today, there would be less death,
sickness and turmoil. I struggle with it all."

Dear James, thank you for sharing your struggles
regarding prayer. I agree with you in that sometimes it
can be difficult to understand why prayers for some
people get answered, while for others they never seem
to be answered.

The fact is that sometimes God answers, "Yes" to our
requests. Sometimes he answers, "No," and sometimes
it's, "Wait a while." Other times our prayers don't get
answered because we are praying the wrong prayer. As
today's Scripture reminds us, sometimes we pray with
the wrong motives. 

Furthermore, some prayers don't get answered because we
may be focusing on the symptoms of our problems, rather
than facing and dealing with the deeper cause or
causes. For instance, there's no point in praying for
healing from ulcers if they are caused by an overload
of stress caused by unresolved personal problems. Also,
no point in praying for deliverance from alcoholism
unless we face and deal with the deeper cause or
causes. In most of these cases the ulcers and the
alcoholism are symptoms of deeper problems--often in
the subconscious mind. 

When praying about any problem or situation, to ensure
that our prayers will be heard and answered by God, we
need, first of all, to pray in Jesus' name, as it is
only through Him that we can come to God. Jesus Said,
"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for
anything in my name, and I will do it."3

Second, we also need to pray "in truth." God's Word
says that "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to
all who call on Him in truth."2 That is, we need to be
ruthlessly honest, first with ourselves, and then with
God asking Him to confront us with the truth of what we
may be contributing to the symptoms we are struggling
with; to give us the courage to face and deal with any
deeper cause/s; and to lead us to find the help we need
to resolve the cause/s. 

Third, we need to pray believing. Faith, too, is
essential for effective prayer. As Jesus said, "All
things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will
receive,"4 and "according to your faith will it be done
to you."5

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for the
wonderful privilege You have given to all mankind in
that we can always come to You in prayer through Jesus
Christ Your Son and our Lord. Please help me to always
pray 'in truth' and always be honest with myself and
with You, pray with pure motives, and always pray in
harmony with Your Word and Your will, so that I will be
sure that You will hear and answer my prayers. Thank
You for hearing and answering this prayer. Gratefully
in Jesus's name, amen."

NOTE: For further help see the article, "How to Get
Prayer Answered." It's at:
http://tinyurl.com/positive-praying. please take time
to read it. I trust it will be of help.

1. James 4:3 (NKJV)
2. Psalm 145:18 (NIV). 
3. John 14:13-15 (NIV).
4. Matthew 21:22 (NIV).
5. Matthew 9:29 (NIV).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
 When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Love  

"There are three things that remain--faith, hope, and
love--and the greatest of these is love."1

Many years ago, when I was a youth, I read the
following poem that I have never forgotten. It was
written by John Oxenham:

    Love ever gives, forgives outlives,
    And ever stands with open hands,
    And while it lives, it gives.
    For this is love's prerogative-
    to give, and give, and give.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in perhaps the greatest
literary masterpiece on love ever written: "If I speak
in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I
have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries
and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give
all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the
flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."2

Love is much more than sentiment and even a feeling.
It's a commitment of one imperfect person to another.
It's a choice. It's a byproduct of growth and maturity.
It is a gift from God. It also needs to be learned. We
learn it from loving people who know us totally--warts
and all--and still love us. And we learn it from others
who model it, the supreme example being the Lord Jesus.

And remember, we always need to do the loving
thing--even when we don't feel loving.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in the words of John
Powell, 'Please don't let me die without having fully
lived and fully loved.' Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Paul the Apostle (1 Corinthians 13:13, TLB).
2. 1 Corinthians13:1-3 (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.
  
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  Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
 
  
  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Life's Little Things  

"Be kind to each other."1

Chances are you've been bitten by a mosquito, an ant, a
gnat, a bee or a wasp, but have you ever been bitten by
a lion or an elephant? Not too likely.

The point is that it's usually the little things in
life that get under our skin and upset our apple cart
more often than the biggies.

It's also the little things that make a big difference
to the quality of our life. A simple thank you, a
kindly word, a word of encouragement, a telephone call,
a note, an email, a greeting card, a smile, a word of
appreciation, a flower, and so on. As another put it:
"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."

Why not determine to do something kind every day for
someone, and especially for your loved ones as well as
to friends and work mates. As someone else said, "When
we deserve love the least is when we need it the most!"

Do it today!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to always remember
the important little things in life and give such gifts
every day, not only to my loved ones and friends, but
also to those who cross my path who need it--including
those whom I don't especially like. Thank You for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's
name, amen."

1. Paul, the Apostle (Ephesians 4:32).

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

  
  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

When the Heart Is Breaking  

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those
who are crushed in spirit."1

E. Kittredge wrote, "'I am trying to trust,' said one
who had heard the earth falling on the casket which
held the cold form of the dearest human friend, 'I am
trying to trust,' and so I have seen a bird with a
broken wing trying to fly. When the heart is broken,
all our trying will only increase our pain and
unrest. But if, instead of trying to trust, we will
press closer to the Comforter, and lean our weak heads
upon his sufficient grace, the trust will come without
our trying, and the promised 'perfect peace' will calm
every troubled wave of sorrow."

Unfortunately, resolving grief is not quite this
simple. Learning to resolve grief and trust God is not
an event--it is a process, a process that takes time.
To feel deserted by one whom we love leaves us
destitute. We can be angry at God for taking our loved
one and even angry at the one who left us. Whether we
should or shouldn't feel this way is beside the point.
We feel what we feel. That's the reality and these
feelings need to be expressed in healthy ways to
understanding friends who lovingly accept us and our
feelings. Then there is the unrelenting grief that
tears the heart apart. Tears--gut level tears--need to
be sobbed out over and over until all the pain is
dissipated. Again, this takes time. Tears are God's
gift to drain the pain of unrelenting grief. Until we
resolve all these painful emotions, it can be very
difficult for many, if not impossible, to feel God's
loving presence.

Also, at times of loss the support of loving friends is
also critical. Certainly, one may need to withdraw for
a brief season but not for too long. Loving support
from friends is critical at this time ... often for a
long time.

Yes we need God but we also need people. One of the
first things Jesus did at the commencement of his
public ministry was to choose "twelve that they might
be with him."2 And one of Jesus' hurts prior to his
crucifixion was being abandoned by his disciples. If
Jesus needed loving relationships, how much more do we?

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be a
loving and supporting friend with whom grieving people
feel safe to unburden the pain of their broken heart.
And deliver me from the curse to give advice when all
that is needed is a loving heart and a listening and
understanding ear. Thank You for hearing and answering
my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Psalm 34:18 (NIV).
2. Mark 3:14.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * * * * * * 
   Daily Encounter is published at no charge by 
  ACTS International, a non-profit organization, 
  and made possible through the donations of 
  interested friends. Donations can be sent at: 
  http://www.actscom.com
 
  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter
Born to Fly  

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their
strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they
will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be
faint."1

Today's Daily Encounter is from the book, Broken
Chains, by Doug Batchelor.

A naturalist visiting a farm one day was surprised to
see a beautiful eagle in the farmer's chicken coop.
Befuddled, he asked, "Why in the world is that eagle
living with chickens?"

"Well," answered the farmer, "I found an abandoned
eagle's egg one day and laid it in the coop, and a
chicken adopted it and raised the creature after it
hatched. It doesn't know any better; it thinks it's a
chicken." The eagle was even pecking at grain and
strutting awkwardly in circles.

"Doesn't it ever try to fly out of there?" asked the
naturalist, noticing that the bird never lifted its
gaze. "No," said the farmer, "I doubt it even knows
what it means to fly."

The naturalist asked to take the eagle a few days for
experiments, and the farmer agreed. The scientist
placed the eagle on a fence and pushed it off,
bellowing, "Fly!" But the bird just fell to the ground
and started pecking. He then climbed to the top of a
hayloft and did the same thing, but the frightened bird
just shrieked and fluttered ungraciously to the
barnyard, where it resumed its strutting.

Finally, the naturalist took the docile bird away from
the environment to which it had grown accustomed,
driving to the highest butte in the county. After a
lengthy and sweaty climb to the hillcrest with the bird
tucked under his arm, he peered over the edge and then
spoke gently: "You were born to soar. It is better that
you die here today on the rocks below than live the
rest of your life being a chicken. It's not what you
are."

Then, with its keen eyesight, the confused bird spotted
another eagle soaring on the currents high above the
bluff, and a yearning was kindled within it. The
naturalist threw the majestic beast up and over the
edge, crying out, "Fly! Fly! Fly!"

The eagle began to tumble toward the rocks below, but
then it opened its seven-foot span of wings and, with a
mighty screech, instinctively began to flap them. Soon
it was gliding gracefully, climbing in ever-higher
spirals on unseen thermals into the blue sky.
Eventually, the mighty eagle disappeared into the glare
of the morning sun. The bird had become what it was
born to be.2

Have you discovered your God-given purpose and
potential--and have become or are becoming all that you
were born to be?

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to discover
my God-given life purpose and potential and become all
that You have envisioned for me to be and do. Thank You
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus's name, amen."

Note: Be sure to check You Can't Fly With a Broken Wing
at www.actscom.com/store.

1. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV).
2. Doug Batchelor, Broken Chains, Pacific Press, 2004.
Cited in WITandWISDOM, Richard Wimer.
http://www.witandwisdom.org/.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
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  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

Evolution or Intelligent Design  

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies
proclaim the work of his hands."1

Chuck Colson in BreakPoint talked about evolution
scientists who "came up with the 'million monkeys'
theory to show that Shakespeare's genius was nothing
special, that his works could have come about purely by
chance. And, the theory goes, 'If monkeys could knock
out a Shakespearean tragedy given enough time, then
what about creating Shakespeare himself? Couldn't he be
almost as easily explained on Darwinian grounds?'

"But do you know what happened when scientists tried to
test their theory? Obviously, they couldn't test it for
a million years, but they thought they could get some
idea about the truth of the theory by testing it for a
month. The monkeys pressed some random letters on the
keyboard, bashed the computer with stones, and--to put
it as delicately as possible--used it as a toilet.
'Suffice it to say,' the authors remark dryly, 'their
literary efforts fall a good deal short of the Bard'2
[goal].

"It's difficult to see how extending this farce for a
million years would have made any difference at all. In
fact, a scientist at MIT used a computer simulation to
prove that it could not have happened."3

It seems to me that it takes a whole lot more "faith"
to believe in evolution than it does to believe in
intelligent design and a divine Creator. 

Everybody believes in something--and what we believe in
is a choice. Choose wisely for what you choose will
determine your eternal destiny. Eternity is forever and
that is an awful long time.

For help on choosing to believe in God and accept his
way, go to: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please open the eyes of my
understanding so that I will see the truth about life,
about You, and about my eternal destiny with or without
You. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Psalm 19:1 (NIV).
2. Benjamin Wiker and Jonathan Witt, A Meaningful
World.
3. Chuck Colson, "What Has Darwin to Do with
Shakespeare?" BreakPoint, October 12, 2006.
http://www.breakpoint.org/.

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * 
 
  Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.

Today's Daily Encounter

As Sick As Our Secrets  

He who conceals his transgressions will not
prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will
find compassion."1

Earlier this evening I was reading a church-sponsored
website set up to provide a safe place where people can
confess their sins and failures. It was called "Sharing
Secrets."

Obviously people all over are desperate to confess
their sins and failures and be rid of oppressive guilt.
The number of and variety of confessions were pretty
much par for the course. People shared their problems
with addictions, living a double life, eating
disorders, gambling, pornography, adultery, hurt,
lying, stealing, relationships, illicit sex, past
humiliation, regret, shame, abuse, lust, substance
abuse, self-harm and so on.

My best guess is that most of these people were
ordinary everyday people. There may have been some but
I didn't read of any who were involved in criminal
activity. Some of these people held responsible
positions; some were in leadership--including a pastor
or two. The reality is we are all fellow strugglers in
that we have all sinned, and when we do, we are plagued
by guilt. Even if we repress the guilt from conscious
memory, it will still plague us in one way or another.

As psychologists tell us, we are as sick as our
secrets.

Every one of us needs a safe place to confess our sins
and failures and to be fully forgiven. As King David
said after confessing his sin with Bathsheba, "Finally,
I confessed all my sins to you [God] and stopped trying
to hide my guilt. I said to myself, 'I will confess my
rebellion to the Lord.' And you forgave me! All my
guilt is gone."2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that when I
admit and confess my sins to You, You fully forgive me
and set me free from guilt. Help me not to sin, but
when and if I do, give me the courage to confess what I
have done to You and to a safe and trusting person,
pastor, priest or counselor. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. 1 John 1:9 (NIV).
2. Proverbs 28:13 (NASB).

<)))><    
  
  NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
  for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
  Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
  if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, 
  please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.
  
  * * *
  
 Copyright (c) 2014 by ACTS International. 
  When copying or forwarding include the following: 
  "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2014
  ACTS International.