+Dev+ Michael D. Inman

Date: October 21, 2010 12:33 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Self-Confidence

Self-Confidence

"you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil" (James 4:15-16).
Scripture Focus: James 4

It would be a rare occasion, indeed, to hear a business person say, "If it's the Lord's will, we'll move ahead with this project." An unbelieving CEO wouldn't approach business that way. Sadly, many Christian CEOs wouldn't either. Truth be told, do I acknowledge the Lord before I march ahead with my daily plans? Most of us feel so confident about our own intentions that we begin to believe we are the ones in control. Our self-confidence becomes the pillar on which we stand.

James' letter speaks volumes to us about submitting ourselves to God rather than insisting on our own way. We quarrel with each other; we make friends with the world; we are proud and quick to speak against our brother. Imagine how far James, Jesus' sibling, had come in his walk of faith! After all, he grew up with a brother who, though perfect in behavior, seemed downright crazy at times (See Mark 3:20-21.) James urges Jesus' followers then as well as us now to let Christ be our pillar and to put our confidence in Him.

Insight: When we adopt God's plans, our hearts will ultimately find rest in His provision.

Date: October 20, 2010 1:05 AM
Topic: +DEV+ American Idol Hopefuls

American Idol Hopefuls

"...That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves, then, to God" (James 4:6-7a).
Scripture Focus: Mark 10:35-45

They congregate by the thousands in major cities throughout the United States to audition for the TV show, "American Idol." Some sing like nightingales; others leave more to be desired! However, they all have one thing in common: a compelling desire to become the next "American Idol."

We can't ascribe a colossal ego to every contestant, but obviously many believe they are good enough to merit the fame and fortune that accompany the title, "American Idol." If ego without talent was enough, many would win.

Two disciples, James and John, asked Jesus to appoint them to the top "cabinet" positions in His future kingdom. But their ambition hit a wall when He informed them that God honors humility, not selfish ambition. According to Jesus, the way up in the kingdom is the way down. God honors service rather than self-aggrandizing.

Any one of us may have the talent to become the next "American Idol," but do we humbly serve others in Jesus' name? Pursue that instead.

Insight: Don't let your ego become so big that you may have to swallow it someday.

Date: October 18, 2010 11:02 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Untrustworthy Idols

Untrustworthy Idols

"O house of Israel, trust in the LORD - he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the LORD - he is their help and shield" (Psalm 115:9, 11).
Scripture Focus: Psalm 115:1-11

Our economy has its ups and downs, often more downs than ups, but God's promises remain stable and reliable. He has promised to meet our daily needs. Though our financial institutions may go under, the Bank of Heaven will never fail. Therefore, our trust should be in God and in His Word.

Three times Psalm 115 identifies God as His people's help and shield and therefore worthy of their trust (vs. 9, 10, 11). It also depicts idols as the "work of men's hands" (vs. 4), incapable of speaking, seeing, hearing, smelling, handling, or walking. In other words, idols are untrustworthy.

Perhaps our shaky economy serves notice that money and material goods are nothing in which to put our trust. They don't see those who trust in them. Nor do they answer the cries of those who trust in them. They cannot handle personal crises or walk alongside their worshipers in the valley of despair. How vastly different is our God. He is personal and powerful. He is our "help and shield," and He invites us to trust in Him.

Insight: Time spent serving idols is idle time. But time spent worshiping and serving the Lord has eternal significance.

Date: October 17, 2010 9:38 PM
Topic: +DEV+ American Idols
American Idols

"...And we are in him who is true even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:20-21).
Scripture Focus: 1 John 5:13-21
In some cultures an idol is a statue or an image crafted from stone, wood or metal and regarded as an object of worship. It may resemble an animal, a mythical creature, or a human being. It may bear a name. The Hebrews strayed into the worship of idols resembling golden calves shortly after the true God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 32), and years later after the division of the United Kingdom (1 Kings 12:26-28).
But in a broader sense an idol is anything or anyone held in greater esteem than God. This definition brings the idea of having idols right into your own life and mine. We may never see anyone worship an actual statue, but esteeming someone or something more highly than God, is at times all too familiar. While some may value sports figures or Hollywood personalities, others may idolize a pastime, money, fame, or fortune. Many of our idols are hidden deep inside our hearts.
Genuine worship demands that we cast those idols aside and live for Him Who is true.
Insight: The throne of our hearts belongs to God. We dare not worship anything or anyone else.

Date: October 14, 2010 10:36 PM
Topic: +DEV+ He Remains the Same

He Remains the Same

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea" (Psalm 46:1-2).
Scripture Focus: Psalm 46


Winter gives way to spring; laughter turns to tears, parched earth changes to verdant growth after rain; childlessness yields to family; a calm sea becomes a storm. Some changes we welcome more than others. All of them serve to remind us that our Creator remains the same.

Martin Luther clung with all his life to that great truth: that God remained and His kingdom would be forever. Nearly 500 years ago on this very day, he posted on the cathedral doors in [color:0d88=#000]Wittenberg, Germany his 95 complaints against the medieval church. He sought to bring us back to the Scriptures and to make it clear how salvation was given. The words Luther wrote for the great hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" were and still are a rallying cry for believers in Jesus Christ. We have focused this month on the implications of our constant change and God's forever remaining the same. Because we know the unchanging One, we can sing with Christians throughout history that "God's truth abideth still - His kingdom is forever."

Insight: "A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing...from age to age the same..." Martin Luther, 1529

Date: October 13, 2010 1:03 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Evil in the Eyes of the Lord
Evil in the Eyes of the Lord

"And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom..." (2 Chronicles 33:13).
Scripture Focus: 2 Chronicles 33:1-13
Halloween is only a few days away. I am simply aghast at how glorified this dark, occult event has become. Spiritually speaking, it appears that we are still living in a world that is just as depraved as it was in the days of the kings of Israel.
Manasseh was a king who did evil in the eyes God. Because of his disobedience, he was captured by the Assyrians who dragged him into Babylonian captivity by putting a hook through his nose. Dreadful! While imprisoned as a slave, Manasseh realized that he needed to change his attitude. He saw that obeying God wasn't such a bad idea after all. Having already lost his kingdom, Manasseh cried out to God in his distress; God, Who is merciful, heard him.
I am encouraged by the fact that even in the midst of complete evil such as we see today, God is still at work and is still in charge. No matter how wicked a nation and its people become, God can change their attitudes and bring them into a place of right living.
Insight: What do you fear? Do you trust that nothing on, above or below earth can diminish who Christ is?

Date: October 11, 2010 12:38 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Lump of Clay
Lump of Clay

"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand" (Isaiah 64:8).
Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 18:1-6
Many of the changes that come about in our lives are not welcomed by us. If the lump of clay being kneaded by the potter could cry out, I am sure it would! Being molded and pressed and worked doesn't feel good. Yet if the lump of clay could know the stunning piece of artwork or the very useful water pitcher the artisan would create of it, perhaps he would keep silent. An audacious lump of clay that would be who would call out in defiance to the craftsman, the one who knows the shape he wants that clay to have.
There have been times of distress and hardship in my life that have hurt deeply. The process of getting through has pinched me, pressed me and pulled me in directions I didn't want to go. In my boldness I questioned the Lord's ways. Yet here I am today, His humbled vessel, filled up and spilled out time and time again in ways that have been able to give Him glory. Far be it from me to challenge the Master Craftsman, my Father and my Lord.
Insight: Have you also felt the pain of being molded? Do you believe that God's plans will work together for your good? Trust Him!

Date: October 7, 2010 10:09 PM
Topic: +DEV+ A New Spirit
A New Spirit

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:3-4).
Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 36:24-27
One evening at a doctor appointment, God let me eavesdrop on a miracle in progress. A once-quiet exam room next to mine suddenly erupted into a frenzy of excited voices and hurried footsteps. I learned that the man in the room beside mine was a candidate for a heart transplant, and a donor had finally become available. What a change he was about to experience!
For the rest of the evening, my thoughts returned to him. I contemplated how he was being given a second chance at life because somewhere nearby, a life had just ended. The medical world and the generous gift of a total stranger had combined to offer him a miracle.
Similarly, God has offered us the gift of life. We were already dead in our sins when He sent His Son to restore us. And ultimately in Jesus' death we would be given the opportunity to live. We're like the young woman receiving a new set of lungs. Our names have been called. God's promises have been fulfilled, and new life in Christ is ours for the taking.
Insight: Do you have the assurance of salvation? Is salvation something we can earn? How does new life give you hope?

Date: October 6, 2010 9:22 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Noisy Nature

Noisy Nature

"'Would you discredit my justice?...Do you have an arm like God's,
and can your voice thunder like his'" (Job 40:8-9)?
Scripture Focus: Psalm 19:1-11

June 25, 2007, was an exciting day for NASA and the crew of the
shuttle, Atlantis, as my friend recounted. "The sky was beautifully
clear, so I could witness Atlantis flying right over. As soon as I
heard the sonic booms, I knew exactly where to look in the sky. A
thin white trail represented the shuttle's change from a place with
no atmosphere to Earth's atmosphere."

There's something awesome about the power of those twin sonic booms.
It makes me wonder what it must have been like when God's voice
spread across the expanse of space and spoke the universe into being.
A sonic boom is impossible to ignore. The force driving it causes the
sound barrier to be broken and elicits an unmistakable noise.

God's voice is unmistakable. He calls to us, reminding us that He is
truly awesome. We may not always understand what He is doing or why.
There are times when the beauty and perfection of God's plan for our
lives is not understandable until it has been completed in us. In all
things, He is marvelous and worthy to be praised.

Insight: What changes in your life are hard? Do you enjoy hearing
God's voice? What evidence of God's power have you seen?
--

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

Date: October 6, 2010 1:53 AM
Topic: +DEV+ God's Call to Change
God's Call to Change

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And being with you, I desire nothing on earth...God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever"
(Psalm 73:25-26).
Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 7:1-7
Sometimes the hardest part about change is our dealing with our attitudes. We may say we want change, but when it comes right down to it, it's far easier to forgo change and just keep things as they are. This is something I struggle with greatly, especially when the calendar changes from December to January. I tell myself I'm going to change certain things about my behavior, but come February my weak will has already taken me back to old familiar bad habits. The problem is that I don't actively change my way of thinking.
It's not enough to simply desire change in our hearts. We have to base the changes on the knowledge that God expects us to change. Unless we realign our way of thinking, we can't alter our behavior. We need to take God's commands and laws seriously, writing them on the tablets of our heart so that they are constantly with us. The more we learn about God, His laws and His will, the more we will develop our internal desire to make the right kind of changes in our lives.
Insight: Are God's Laws Familiar To You? Is Your Desire To Be Obedient Or To Be Complacent? What Changes Do You Hope To Make?

Date: October 4, 2010 10:08 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Changing the Routine

Changing the Routine

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see
the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25).
Scripture Focus: Psalm 122

When my wife and I married, we moved to a new state where we became
members of a different church family. The transition was difficult.
The hardest part of joining with a new body of believers was just
that-it was different.

I knew I needed to attend church, but something inside kept me from
welcoming this new change in my spiritual life. For several months I
set my jaw and went to church out of obligation and routine.

Routine isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, our God is a God of
order and not chaos, and a well-established routine can bring about
order and peace.

The same can be said of using routine to develop our relationships
with God. God commands us to go to church so that we can learn about
Him and how He is working in the lives of other Christians. Going to
church out of habit still gives us an opportunity to spend time with
God. His grace abounds though our hearts are defiant. We must not
give up meeting together with others, even if it means the routine
has to change a little bit.

Insight: Do you tend to stick to a routine? How do you develop your
relationship with God? Do you ever feel like church is a habit?
--

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

Date: October 3, 2010 10:20 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Breaking the Mold

Breaking the Mold

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test... what God's will is" (Romans 12:2).
Scripture Focus: Romans 12:1-2

One of the many things I learned in life is that not all people who claim to be Christians do a very good job of separating themselves from the rest of the world. The so-called friends whom I thought would be supportive of my relationship with God, turned out to be the ones who impeded my walk with Him the most. Daily I was reminded that conformity was much easier than self-sacrifice. Sadly, there are even some churches that fail to resist conformity. Dr. Michael Horton's book "Christless Christianity" details exactly that.

How can we possible change the world for the better? First, we need to be available to God. This means getting rid of that which competes with Him for our attention. Secondly, we must confess that we are sinners, unable to change ourselves without God's intervention. Finally, live in obedience, going against the grain of popular opinion. As we walk through these steps on a regular basis, breaking out of the mold that the world wants for us, God brings us into a right relationship with Him.

Insight: What Are The Downfalls Of Conformity? Have You Ever Decided To Conform Rather Than Stand Alone? What Blessing Is There To Renewing The Mind?

Date: September 29, 2010 10:57 PM
Topic: +DEV+ A Swiftly Changing World
A Swiftly Changing World
"I the LORD do not change...you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you..." (Malachi 3:6a, 7).
Scripture Focus: Psalm 125
America thrives on change. Although we're a relatively young country, we have seen very dramatic changes in just a few hundred years. Transportation, communication, entertainment, food preparation and even family life are wildly different than they were in the days of our founding fathers. How should a Christian behave in a world characterized by nearly constant change?
First, we must remember to keep God at the center of all we do, regardless of our surroundings. God has set us apart and called us for a specific purpose in life. We cannot fulfill that purpose if we stray from Him. Secondly, we should ask the Holy Spirit to give us a measure of discernment and wisdom so that we change only in ways that edify His church or make our personal relationships with Christ stronger. And finally, be thankful for the myriad of ways we benefit from all these changes.
Just because the world around us moves at breakneck speed, we need not fear. We serve a God who is unchanging and constant.
Insight: Do you struggle to obey laws that don't seem modern? Have any of God's laws changed? How have you changed in response to God's laws?

Date: September 28, 2010 3:06 AM
Topic: +DEV+ A Change of Heart

A Change of Heart

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are
crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).
Scripture Focus: Psalm 34:1-18

Of all the different things in life that have the potential to
influence us, the ones that carry the most weight tend to be those
that affect the heart. The Bible refers to the heart as the
"wellspring of life," urging us to guard it above all else.

The Psalmist writes that God is close to the brokenhearted and saves
those who are crushed in spirit. A person's heart, in the emotional
and spiritual sense, is a place where secrets and dreams are kept.
The pain of a broken heart is as unique as its contents. We can take
comfort in the fact that a God Who is so large and powerful
demonstrates His love on such an intimate and personal level when He
mends the brokenhearted of His creation.

When our own emotions overpower us, the Holy Spirit intervenes and
changes our hearts to be more peaceful. Although we can't change the
circumstances that hurt our hearts, we can cry out to God, and He
will mend them like a mother tenderly mending her loved one's shirts.
He is forever faithful and unchanging.

Insight: When Have You Needed Peace In Your Heart? Do You Believe God
Is Faithful Times Of Brokenness? How Do Emotions Change Your Heart
And Attitude?
--

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

Date: September 27, 2010 1:17 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Unfathomable Forgiveness

Unfathomable Forgiveness
"Then when I make atonement for you, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth..." (Ezekiel 16:63).
Scripture Focus: Psalm 32:1-5
Many Christians trivialize the whole concept of forgiveness. We go through each day committing numerous sins; then, at the end of the day, we quickly offer up a flippant prayer saying, "forgive all my sins." When we do this, we may fail to recognize the gravity of our mistakes and the consequences of our sins. We don't even think to ask God to help us change our sinful attitudes. After all, why should we change? God loves us just as we are, doesn't He?
God does indeed love us exactly as we are, but He also loves us too much to let us stay that way. He never stops forgiving us. He never ceases to give us second chances. He desires that we have a change of heart and choose obedience over selfishness. God is best served when we live a life of humility and give Him the glory.
When God forgives us, He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). We, however, should be humbly mindful of what He has done, and praise Him accordingly.
Insight: What does forgiveness make you think of? Do you need to change to become more humble? Aren't you glad that God allows us to change?

Date: September 23, 2010 8:47 PM
Topic: +DEV+ A Change in Appetite

A Change in Appetite
"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with
manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known..." (Deuteronomy
8:3a).
Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 8:1-18
I used to hate Italian food. I didn't mind my mom's spaghetti so
much, but lasagna, penne, even pizza made me turn up my nose. I could
count on one hand the number of times I'd been to an Italian
restaurant. Then, when I was 15 a friend took me out to Alex's Pizza
where I decided to try the chicken parmigiana. My appetite underwent
a dramatic change, and I have been a fan of Italian foods for quite
some time since.
God has a way of turning our spiritual appetites around as well. When
we open ourselves to the possibility of trying something new,
blessings await us. It has been said that hunger is the best
seasoning. Instead of trying to fill our emptiness by ingesting
whatever looks the most appealing at the moment, we need to hunger
for the Lord. Remember that only God can provide the satisfaction and
change of appetite we need.
As I have hungered and thirsted after Him, I have undergone so many
wonderful changes. Let's pray that the same would be true for you.
Insight: Do You Regularly Feed On God's Word? How Does God Satisfy
Your Spiritual Hunger? Has God Ever Changed Your Appetite To Seek
After Him?
--
Michael D. Inman
- The Only Thing Necessary For Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to do
Nothing -- Edmund Burke...
"If the First Amendment fails, use the Second one."

Date: September 19, 2010 6:13 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Debt Reconciliation
Debt Reconciliation

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who...gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).
Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
When we moved to our new house, we acquired someone's old phone number. Apparently, that person wasn't very financially responsible. Collection agencies and creditors call frequently. We've spent several months explaining that we are not the person they seek.
When we become a new creation in Christ, He takes on our debt of sin. However, the enemy tries to undermine this good work. The evil one takes great pleasure in reminding us of our sinful past and trying to make us believe that we are still in great debt. Our lack of faith makes us think that payment will be exacted from us. This can weigh us down and interfere with our ability to praise God with our whole hearts.
In those times of insecurity, we must remember that our debts already have been reconciled. He took our sin and paid it all. There is now no condemnation for those who serve the Lord. We have been forgiven; nothing can change that. Rejoice! For in His eyes, we are a new creation.
Insight: Does your sinful past ever trouble you? Do you rejoice to be debt-free in Christ? How should we respond to our newness in Christ?

Date: September 16, 2010 8:56 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Consecrate Yourself

Consecrate Yourself

"...'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow;...That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it'" (Joshua 7:13).
Scripture Focus: Joshua 7

Sometimes we become distracted by material things. We have a tendency to think that we bring about positive change in our lives through our own actions. We need to realize that we can do nothing without God. Rather, give Him the full credit and glory, keeping nothing back for ourselves. Our God is incredibly powerful; we have no excuse for putting earthly things ahead of Him on our list of priorities. When we yield to Him, we can experience the blessings of change that He has planned for us. And what welcomed changes those will be!

The Children of Israel were on the verge of the biggest change they could imagine. After years of wandering in the dessert, they had finally arrived at the Promised Land. The army was ready to go in and conquer the Canaanites; they needed to change their focus to rely fully on God and subject themselves to His will. Insisting on their own way of doing things was keeping them from enjoying the victory against Canaan that God had planned for them.

Insight: Do you trust God with life changes? Do you cling to the past? What changes has God made in your life when you've trusted Him?

Date: September 15, 2010 11:56 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Grand Changes
Grand Changes

"You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness" (Psalm 65:10, 12).
Scripture Focus: Psalm 65
I remember the first time I saw the Grand Canyon. I marveled at it, awestruck by the many colors that the sun illuminated on the canyon walls. I was only 6 years old at the time, and the sheer magnitude of what I was viewing absolutely amazed me. What really impressed me was that the Grand Canyon is the result of many years of erosion by wind and water. Together those forces have created a breathtaking national park in the middle of Arizona's desert.
The Holy Spirit is a force even stronger than those of nature. Like a mighty river, the Holy Spirit churns in our hearts, eroding away all that should not be there. The result is a beautiful heart, one that pleases our Lord and Savior. Just as the waters of the Colorado River are relentless in turning the rocks of the riverbed, making them smooth, so too the Holy Spirit as it works on our hearts, smoothing over the rough spots and cutting a wide swath that evidences His glory. And there the Son illuminates the beauty of what has taken place.
Insight: God makes even the roughest patches smooth and beautiful. How has He demonstrated this in your life? Does your heart need to be smoothed over?