Re: Daily Encounter with: ACTS International

Admin Fri 18 Aug 2017, 11:13 am

Today's Daily Encounter

I'm Just a Kid . . . But

"The LORD [God] came and stood there, calling as at the
other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said,
'Speak, for your servant is listening.'"1

Larry L. wrote to me a very short but impressive note.
It read, "Sorry I can't donate anything. I'm just a
kid, but I'll stand right with you in prayer. I'll
continue to pray for your mission. Thanks for all your
messages."

I replied: Hi Larry, bless you for your desire to pray
for our ministry. This is a big offering to the Lord,
and a great encouragement and blessing to Joy and me.

Remember, too, that God has used lots of kids in his
work--kids who made themselves available for him to
use--kids whom he used to make an impact on others.

Samuel, one of the great prophets of God in years gone
by, began to serve God when he was just a kid.

When God called David who became the mighty King of
Israel, he was just a shepherd lad being diligent with
his work.

Jesus took the five two loaves of bread and two fish
that a kid gave to him to feed a multitude of people.

I started serving God when just a kid by collecting and
putting away the hymn books after every service in the
small church I attended. And one of the best pieces of
advice I received when I was little more than a kid was
to commit and trust my life and way to God every
day--and I've been doing that ever since. That's been
for quite a few years now. I encourage you to do the
same and God will use you, too, to influence who knows
how many people.

Also, ask God every day to use you to be "as Jesus" to
your family, friends and every life you touch.

God's very best to you, Larry, and many thanks again
for standing with us in prayer.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you so much for kids
who have a tender heart towards you. Please help me to
always come to you as such a child and use me to share
your love to others. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV).

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Today's Daily Encounter

Killing off the Coyotes

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a
man sows, that he will also reap."1

In his book, Rewriting the Family Script, Roger
Hillerstrom shares how "a small, Midwestern town once
sponsored a coyote hunt because so many farmers were
losing chickens to the predators. Fifteen hundred
coyotes were killed over a single weekend.

"However, within a few months the entire community was
overrun with rodents, because their natural enemy, the
coyote, had been eliminated. A year after that, the
rodents weren't much of a problem, but the rattlesnakes
were! Because there were so many rats and mice for them
to eat, the poisonous snakes had reproduced rapidly.

"At that point, the chickens were safe, but the humans
were in danger! You see, the coyotes had been an
important part of the environmental system--the food
chain. When one part of that system changed, other
parts adapted to the new reality."2

When we as individuals, groups, or societies and even
some churches get rid of God's Word, the Ten
Commandments, and overthrow God's standards to do as we
please, and seek to throw out God himself, the seeds of
our ultimate destruction are sown. God is not mocked.
In time, we all reap what we have sown.

As the Apostle Paul exhorted the Christians in Corinth:
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men [and
women] of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."3

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, amid the ever increasing
pressure in our society to get rid of anything to do
with the Bible and with you, please help me to be on my
guard, be strong, and stand firm in my Christian faith.
And help me to so live that others seeing Jesus in me
will want him for themselves. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Galatians 6:7 (NKJV).
2. P. Roger Hillerstrom, Rewriting the Family Script,
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Fleming H. Revell, 1995), p.
19. Cited on www.sermons.com.
3. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NIV).

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Tue 01 Aug 2017, 2:39 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

When the Helper Needs Help

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Luke 18:13 (NKJV).
2. King Duncan www.sermons.com.

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Mon 31 Jul 2017, 1:04 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

When the Helper Needs Help

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Luke 18:13 (NKJV).
2. King Duncan www.sermons.com.

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

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

Admin Fri 28 Jul 2017, 7:01 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

God's Methods

"I searched for a man among them who would build up the
wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so
that I would not destroy it; but I found no one."1

Down through the ages since the beginning of time
whenever God has a job to do, he has always chosen and
started with a single individual. Think of Abraham,
Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Mary, John the Baptist,
Peter, and Paul for example.

Robert C. Stone shared how, "In 1872, Dwight L. Moody
attended an early morning meeting in a hay mow (the
place they store hay) in Ireland. At the meeting he
heard a man quietly say, 'The world has yet to see what
God can do with, and for, and through, and in, the man
who is fully and wholly consecrated to God's will.'

"Years later, Moody was seated high up in Charles
Spurgeon's tabernacle in London, and Spurgeon used
those same words in his message. Moody bowed his head
and prayed, 'By the power of the Holy Spirit, I will be
that man.'"

Moody was greatly used of God to win multiplied
thousands to Christ and founded the world-famous Moody
Bible Institute (MBI) in Chicago, a school that has
trained many thousands for Christian service around the
world. (By way of interest, I am a graduate of MBI.)

E M. Bounds said, "Men are looking for better methods.
God is looking for better men [and women]." God will
use every single person who makes him/herself available
for Him to use, and he is still looking for dedicated
people to stand in the gap today. Will you, too, in the
words of D. L. Moody, say, "By the power of the Holy
Spirit, I will be that man/woman?"

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that your
methods are people. By and through your power I want
you to use me to stand in the gap to be what you want
me to be and to do what you want me to do. Please use
me to be a shining light in a dark world so that
people, seeing Jesus in me, will want you for
themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

Note: For God to use you to help reach others with the
gospel please consider becoming an ACTS People Power
for Jesus partner and help in an attractive,
non-threatening way to share the love of Jesus and the
message of God’s salvation with friends, family and
contacts. For more information go to:
http://www.actsweb.org/people_power02.php.

1. Ezekiel 22:30 (ASV).

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Thu 27 Jul 2017, 10:40 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Walking Witnesses

"But you will receive power when the Holy 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."1

I have read how, "while attending a university in
London, Mahatma Gandhi became almost convinced that the
Christian religion was the one true, supernatural
religion in the world. Upon graduation, and still
seeking evidence that would make him a committed
Christian, young Gandhi accepted employment in East
Africa and for seven months lived in the home of a
family who were members of an evangelical Christian
church. As soon as he discovered that fact, he decided
that here would be the place to find the evidence he
sought.

"But as the months passed and he saw the casualness of
their attitude toward the cause of God, heard them
complain when they were called upon to make a sacrifice
for the kingdom of God, and sensed their general
religious apathy, Gandhi's interest turned to
disappointment. He said in his heart, 'No, it is not
the one true, supernatural religion I had hoped to
find. A good religion, but just one more of the many
religions in the world.'"2

Let us remember that as children of God we are not
called to do witnessing but to be Christ's witnesses.
Wherever we are, wherever we go, whatever we do--in all
circumstances at all times we are being witnesses of
Christ. I recall reading years ago the following words
on a poster in the office in the college where I
attended:

The living truth is what I long to see,
I cannot live on what used to be,
So close your Bible and show me how
The Christ you talk about is living now.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to remember
that as a child of Yours, I am being a witness for You
in all circumstances at all times. Help me to so live
that my life will always be an effective witness and be
used to help win others to You. May people, seeing
Jesus in me, want Jesus for themselves. Thank You for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. Acts 1:8 (NIV).
2. Evangelical Illustration

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Wed 26 Jul 2017, 7:59 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Almost Persuaded

"'King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know
that you do believe' Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You
almost persuade me to become a Christian.'"1

Brett Blair writes how "on January 23, 1909, a small
invention played a crucial role in the lives of 1500
people. The New York-bound ocean liner the Florida
rammed into the Republic. Jack Binns, the Republic's
new wireless radio man, reassembled his contraption
which had been destroyed in the collision. He sent out
distress calls for the next 12 hours until the crew and
passengers were rescued in the dawn light of Sunday
morning. Only a few died.

"Jack Binns became a national hero. He was given a
ticker tape parade. Songs were written about him. He
even testified before congress on the importance of
regulating wireless technology on all ships. Congress
listened politely but ignored his message. Binn gave up
his quest, accepted no profit from his celebrity, and
went back home to England to await reassignment. Three
years later he received an assignment aboard a ship
that he turned down. He had fallen in love and was soon
to marry. The turned down assignment? The Titanic.

"It is now felt that Binn's message was ignored because
so few lives were lost on the Republic. It took tragedy
on the scale of the Titanic for the importance of
wireless to be understood."2

King Agrippa was an almost-persuaded too--but lost. Be
certain not to wait until it is too late to take heed
of God's warnings in the Bible. Be sure you have
accepted God's plan of salvation from a lost eternity.
Whatever you do, don't be an almost-persuaded.

For help be sure to read, "How to Be Sure You're a Real
Christian--without having to be religious" at:
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for the many
warnings in Your Word, the Bible, telling me that I
need to prepare for eternity and how to be saved from a
lost eternity. Help me to be certain that I am prepared
for life after this life; that is, life after death.
Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Acts 26:27-28 (NKJV).
2. Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com, December, 2000

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Today's Daily Encounter

Will Jesus Christ Come Again? Part I

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God,
believe also in me. In My Father's house are many
mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again and receive you to
myself; that where I am, there you may be also."1

When one of my nephews was only five he heard me
talking about Christmas being the time when we
celebrate Jesus Christ's coming to earth. He wanted to
know if Jesus would come back to earth again.

Jesus Christ's first coming at Christmas nearly 2,000
years ago is a fact of history. He is as real a person
as was Julius Caesar. In fact, the Encyclopedia
Britannica gives more space to the life of Jesus than
it does to many of the world's great leaders combined.
The secular historian, Josephus, who lived in and wrote
about civilization in Bible times, also verifies the
historical Jesus.

But one question people have been asking ever since the
time of Christ--and perhaps even more so in these days
of ever-increasing terrorism, wars, and threats of
wars--is the same one my nephew asked: "Will Jesus come
back to earth again?"

The only reliable source for an answer to that question
is in God's Word, the Bible, which in the words of
Herbert Lockyer, Sr., gives us The Promise, The Proof,
The Plan of, and The Preparation for Christ's Return.

First, The Promise of Christ’s Return: Actually, every
prophet in the Old Testament part of the Bible, except
Jonah, promises or makes reference to the end of this
world age (as we know it), the beginning of which will
be marked by the second coming of Jesus.

Jesus himself promised he would return. His disciples
were troubled when he told them that he would soon be
leaving them, so he assured them with, “There is more
than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not
so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a
place for you? When everything is ready, I will come
and get you, so that you will always be with me where I
am." 2

When Jesus left earth, two angels gave the same
promise. Imagine the surprise of Christ's disciples on
the day he returned to heaven and two angels appeared
saying: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking
into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from
you into heaven, will come back in the same way you
have seen him go into heaven."3

And almost every writer in the New Testament repeats
the promise. According to one Bible scholar there are
308 references to Christ's second coming in the New
Testament alone. This promise pulsates throughout the
entire Scriptures, right through to the last page and
the last word. "Yes, I am coming soon," Jesus said.4

To be continued…

To be sure you are ready for Christ's return click on
the link to “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian"
at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You not only that
Jesus came the first time some 2,000 years ago to die
on the cross to pay the just penalty for all my sins,
but also for the promise that Jesus will come again to
take to Heaven all those who believe in Him, and have
accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. Thank You for
this wonderful hope. Thank You, too, for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. John 14:1-3 (NKJV).
2. John 14:2-3 (NLT).
3. Acts 1:11 (NIV).
4. Revelation 22:20 (NIV).

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

* * * * * * *

Today's Daily Encounter

Carpe Diem

"Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these
people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the
land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. I
will give you every place where you set your foot, as I
promised Moses."1

Have you ever noticed that, "Opportunity comes to
pass--not to pause?"

When God told Joshua and the ancient Israelites that he
had given them the Promised Land, he certainly didn't
hand it to them on a silver platter. To claim God's
promise, they had to battle every inch of the way. They
still had to go, conquer, and possess it.

The reality is, however, that had God not given it to
them, they never would have been able to conquer and
possess it. And might I add, they wouldn't still be
there today!

God has a work for you and me to do too. He will give
us the opportunities every day to serve him, but it's
up to us to take advantage of these as they come to
pass--not to pause! True, God feeds the sparrows, but
he doesn't throw the food into their nests. They have
to go out and get it. Whatever God has for us to do, he
doesn't do it for us. He will guide us. He will direct
us. He will give us wisdom, but he won't do it for us.
We, too, have to arise, go, and possess the
opportunities and promises God has for us.

With God's help, let us carpe diem, "seize the day," to
take advantage of every opportunity God gives to us,
and claim every promise He has for us.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be ready
and willing to "seize" every opportunity You give to me
to serve You, trust in You to help me to do it, and to
claim every promise You have for me. Thank You for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's
name. Amen."

1. God to Joshua in Joshua 1:2-3 (NIV).

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Sun 23 Jul 2017, 12:01 am

Today's Daily Encounter

No Pain, No Gain

"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection,
lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should
become disqualified."1

I live at the top of a mile-long very steep hill and
for exercise I like to ride my mountain bike down and
up our hill at least three times a week. It's great fun
riding down but riding up is another story … and it
never seems to get easier. "Do you enjoy riding?"
someone asks. My answer? "I love having ridden."

True, I don't enjoy riding up our hill. It's hard work,
but I love having ridden because of the benefits
gained. There is an immediate benefit in that it's a
great stress reliever, offsetting some of the adverse
affects of stress. It also produces endorphins in the
brain that helps me feel much better emotionally than
when I don't exercise regularly. Plus it helps keep my
body in shape; is great for the circulatory system, and
helps to keep fit physically. Furthermore, as Paul
suggests, discipline of the body helps to maintain
discipline in other areas of life.

Self-discipline in every area of life is a never-ending
challenge but the dividends of living a disciplined
life are well worth every effort put forth. Discipline
never happens by chance. It is a choice--a fresh choice
every day!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to realize the
importance, not only of physical discipline, but
discipline in every area of life. And give me the
courage to face and confront every barrier in my life
that fights against self-discipline. Thank You for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV).

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Thu 20 Jul 2017, 11:46 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Seeing Is Believing--or Is It?

"'No, father Abraham,' he [the rich man in hell] said,
'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will
repent.' He [Abraham] said to him, 'If they do not
listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be
convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"1

For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right
when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it
would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the
greatest thinker of all time, and surely he would not
be wrong. Anyone, of course, could have taken two
objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from
a great height to see whether or not the heavier object
landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years
after Aristotle's death. Legend has it that in 1589
Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the
Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and
pushed off a ten-pound and a one-pound weight. Both
landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so
strong, however, that the professors denied their
eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right.2

Often it is said that seeing is believing. Obviously
this isn't necessarily so. Basically, people believe
what they want to believe, what they choose to believe,
often times what is convenient to believe. It has been
said that faith in God is often more of a moral problem
than an intellectual problem. This is because many know
that if they choose a life of faith in God, there are
things in their life they will need to give up. For
these people, it is much more convenient not to believe
in God. No matter what evidence they are presented with
that confirms the existence of God, they refuse to see
it.

However, when I choose to believe in God the eyes of my
understanding are opened and an amazing thing
happens--believing is seeing.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I come to You with all my
doubts and fears. With Your help I choose to believe in
You and trust my life fully to You. Open the eyes of my
understanding and help me to see Jesus. And help me to
so live that others will see Jesus living in me. Thank
You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus' name, amen."

1. Parable told by Jesus in Luke 16:30-31 (NIV).
2. From http://www.eSermons.com.

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Wed 19 Jul 2017, 6:52 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Never, Never, Never ... Give Up

"It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this
wonderful work [of telling his Good News to others] and
so we never give up."1

It was during World War II when Great Britain's back
was against the wall defending herself against
seemingly overwhelming odds with the unrelenting
onslaught of Hitler's military might, and the
unyielding bombing by the German Luftwaffe.

Winston Churchill was asked to address the students at
Harrow School, the school I believe that Churchill
himself had attended as a student. The following is the
speech that he gave that day:

"Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing
great or small, large or petty, never give in except to
convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to
force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might
of the enemy."2

When it came to never giving up Churchill certainly
practiced what he preached. His determined leadership
helped win the war against Germany. And when it comes
to God's work, let us all be like the Apostle Paul who
said about his work for God: "It is God himself, in his
mercy, who has given us this wonderful work [of telling
his Good News to others] and so we never give up."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for the
wonderful calling and privilege to be one of Your
witnesses during my lifetime. Help me to be an
effective witness and never give up praying for lost
loved ones, friends, and neighbors, and never give up
letting my light shine for You. Thank You for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name,
amen."

Note: Please consider becoming an ACTS People Power for
Jesus partner and help in an attractive,
non-threatening way to share the love of Jesus and the
message of God’s salvation with friends, family and
contacts. For more information go to:
http://www.actsweb.org/people_power02.php.

1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 (TLB)(NLT).
2. Sir Winston Churchill, Speech, 1941, Harrow School.

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

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

Admin Tue 18 Jul 2017, 9:32 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Where Are the Nine?

"He [the leper that Jesus healed] threw himself at
Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the
other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise
to God except this foreigner?'"1

"It seems to be human nature to forget to say, 'Thank
you.' Samuel Leibowitz, a brilliant criminal lawyer,
saved 78 people from the electric chair; not one
thanked him. Art King had the radio program, 'Job
Center of the Air.' He supposedly found jobs for 2,500
people, of whom, only ten ever thanked him. An official
of the post office, in charge of the Dead Letter Box in
Washington, D.C., reported one year that he had
received hundreds of letters addressed to 'Santa Claus'
asking him to bring many things, but after Christmas,
only one letter came to the box thanking Santa Claus
for bringing the toys asked for."2

How do I appreciate thee? Let me count the ways!

Whoever the "thees" are in your life and mine, let us
take stock and name the ways we have been blessed
through their love, their friendship, their support,
their encouragement, their help and so on.

And let us not fail to express gratitude when such is
due. As William Arthur Ward said, "Feeling gratitude
and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and
not giving it." Furthermore, let us be givers, just not
takers.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a grateful
heart and may I never ever fail to thank You for the
innumerable blessings I continually receive from Your
hand. Most of all I am and will be forever grateful for
Your 'so great salvation' with the gift of sins
forgiven and eternal life through the sacrifice of Your
Son, Jesus. Thank You for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Luke 17:16-18 (NIV).
2. Tony Bland. Cited on www.sermons.com.

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Mon 17 Jul 2017, 1:14 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Urgent Appeal to Daily Encounter Subscribers

Dear Daily Encounter Subscriber,

I will always be grateful to God that I grew up in a
country where it was notforbidden to preach the gospel
message of Jesus Christ, and that my parentstook me to
church and Sunday school from my earliest days. How
blessed all ofus are who live where Christianity is
still accepted and not a death sentenceif one is caught
proclaiming the same.

Tragically, in today’s world there are many places
where doors are closed to the gospelmessage and where
it is forbidden to communicate it. But thank God that
todaywe have the electronic media which has the ability
to reach beyond closed doorsand reach people of every
language worldwide. We, too, in the English world
areextremely fortunate that English happens to be the
second language of so many othercountries.

And almost daily, all year long, we are receiving
commitmentdecisions for Jesus Christ from around the
world. In ACTS we also have Daily Encounter and
Internet articles inSpanish.

This, too, could very well be a sign that the setting
of the stage for the return ofChrist is accelerating.
Jesus Himself said that when the gospel is preached
inall the world for a witness unto all nations, then
would the end come (Matthew24:14); that is, when He
would return to earth to take all His true followersto
be with him in Heaven forever! "What a day, glorious
day, that will be."

In the meantime, however, let us pray and do everything
we possibly can to ensure that everybody in the entire
world will have the chance--and hopefully many
times--to hear and receive the gospel message of the
Jesus Christ before it is too late.

This is why in ACTS--with God's help and the prayer and
financial support of God's people--we are totally
committed to do everything we possibly can to reach as
many people worldwide as possible with the saving
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ: THE ONLY HOPE FOR OUR
SIN-SICK AND LOST WORLD!

We are also tremendously grateful to God for the
wonderful opportunity we have been given today--with
allthe modern means of communication--to be able to
reach so many people today worldwidewith God’s message
of salvation for lost mankind. Furthermore, we
areincredibly grateful for the constant commitment to
Christ decision responses weare receiving almost daily
from around the world ... and for the
continualencouraging responses received from ACTS
websites and ACTS Daily Encounter devotional. For
instance, here are just a fewresponses:

Furthermore, from Bangkok in Thailand, M.M.
respondedsaying: "I appreciate your website and need to
read more of your articles onhow to become a Christian.

Daily Encounter subscriber who lives in in Tianjin,
some 90 miles southeast of Beijing, whose wife is from
China.

Xie xie, for your lightning quick reply. Xie xie is
thank you in Chinese,pronounced shay shay. I have
prayed in the morning for some time the specialprayer
you sent me, and I truly believe it has revitalized and
rejuvenated mywalk with Jesus. Thank you again, many
blessings on your ministry." - G.S.

The special prayer I sent to G.S. is as follows: "Dear
God, I am available to You today. Please make me usable
and use me today, and every day, to be an effective
witness for Jesus, and to be 'as Jesus' in some way to
every life I touch and always for your glory. Thank you
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in
Jesus name. Amen."

We are also sotremendously grateful to God for every
one of ACTS prayer partners andfinancial supporters for
you, together, are a VITAL part of making all of
ACTSgospel ministries possible and available to people
worldwide. Your involvement in this way is an
investment in people’s lives forall eternity.

As noted before, your faithful support is also keeping
ACTS sharing the message ofJesus Christ with over
212,000 worldwide Daily Encounter subscribers
everyweekday of the year--equaling 4.2 million Daily
Encounters beinge-mailed again this month!

Untold numbers more will receive the gospel viaACTS
websites. We thank God for this incredible opportunity
and for all who arerecording a decision response for
Jesus Christ almost every day of the year.

Know that is is folk like you who support and pray for
ACTS ministry that makes all of ACTS gospel ministries
of spreading the message of Jesus worldwide 24-7-365
possible. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, over the past year we have lost many
faithful supporters, a number of whom have retired from
work and some have passed on to their heavenly reward.

Following is ACTS urgent need:

So we can continue to reach people worldwide with the
saving gospel of Jesus Christ we need at least 25
people who will donate $100.00 or more a month; 50
people to donate $50.00 a month; 100 people to donate
$25 a month, and 250 people to donate whatever they
possibly can every month.

Will you please prayerfully consider becoming one of
these sacrificial donors. If so, you will be a great
help and greatly appreciated.

And as you stand with us each month, may God richly
bless and reward you in His own abundant way.

Gratefully in Christ,

Dick
and Joy Innes

P.S. As another has said, "Our greatest legacy will be
those who live eternally in Heaven because of our
efforts."

SUPPORT CAN BE DONATED ONLINE via ACTS SECURE donor
site at: https://actscom.com/donate.php

Or mailed/posted to:

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

NOTE: ACTS International is a registered 501(c)
(3)nonprofit organization.
U.S. donations are thus tax-deductible.

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Fri 14 Jul 2017, 9:26 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Personal Honesty: Key to Effective Relationships Part III

"So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't
just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy
[dishonesty] and jealousy and backstabbing. You must
crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the
fullness of your salvation."1

To help become personally honest, authentic and real,
and thereby greatly enhance our relationships, the
following steps will help:

First, realize that a normal human being has a whole
spectrum of emotions ranging from love, joy, peace,
wonder, through to fear, hurt, anger and so on. These
are all God-given emotions. Without them, life would be
characteristically dull and boring. To be emotionally
whole means to be in touch with every God-given human
emotion.

Second, we need to see our need and strongly desire to
be honest.

Third, we need to admit and accept responsibility for
any problems we have, and consider the possibility that
our impaired relationships, dull marriage,
unsatisfactory sex life in our marriage, anxiety,
depression, destructive habits and any physical
symptoms we have might be caused by unresolved
super-charged repressed negative emotions.

Fourth, and most important of all, we need to learn to
pray the right prayer. If necessary, tell God that you
don't know how, or are too afraid, to be honest with
yourself and need his help. Ask him to give you the
courage to see yourself as you are and to face the
truth about yourself. His answer will probably come in
an unexpected way--perhaps through a book, a personal
setback, a friend, a difficult or broken relationship,
or some other painful situation. Unfortunately, most of
us only look at our inner-self if we are hurting
sufficiently.

Fifth, learn through practice to express your feelings
openly and honestly, especially to the people who are
important to you. If you're feeling hurt, afraid,
confused, or angry, admit it and say, "I feel confused
or angry." Never say, "You make me angry," or "You hurt
me." This blames the other person for our response,
which is always our problem and responsibility.
Identify why you are feeling the way you are. For
example, say, "I know my feelings are my problem, and I
may be overreacting, but when you speak sharply to me
as you just did, I feel hurt and/or angry." Or simply,
“When you say (or do) things like that, I feel very
hurt and/or angry."

If the person won't accept your feelings, write them
out in a letter. If you feel you should give it to the
person, sleep on it and re-write it before doing so. If
they still won't accept them, try what Gary Smalley and
John Trent suggest in their book, The Language of Love.
Share how you are feeling by using word pictures; that
is, make up a story or parable that will clearly show
how you are feeling.

Finally, if I love you, I will always be open and
honest with you and as the Bible suggests, I will
always strive to "speak the truth in love." Therefore,
I will never blame you for my feelings, but will take
full responsibility for them and for handling them in a
loving, non-judgmental manner.

Denying our faults and feelings, acting them out
blindly, or lashing out and hurting others with them,
is weak and immature. Acknowledging and talking them
out in a responsible manner is a hallmark of the mature
adult. It may not be easy, but it is true strength, and
is the only way to develop growth-producing and
intimate relationships.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be
honest with myself, and open and honest in all my
relationships and with You--and thereby be a clear
channel for Your love to flow through to every life I
touch. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Peter 2:1-2 (NLT).

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Thu 13 Jul 2017, 2:25 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Personal Honesty: Key to Effective Relationships Part II

"But you [God] desire honesty from the heart, so you
can teach me to be wise in my inmost being."1

In speaking about personal honesty in regard to
interpersonal relationships, best-selling author, Dr.
John Powell, believes that "most of us feel that others
will not tolerate emotional honesty in communication.
We would rather defend our dishonesty on the grounds
that it might hurt others, and, having rationalized our
phoniness into nobility, we settle for superficial
relationships. Consequently, we ourselves do not grow,
nor do we help anyone else to grow. Meanwhile, we have
to live with repressed emotions--a dangerous and
self-destructive path to follow. Any relationship which
is to have the nature of true personal encounter must
be based on honest, open, gut-level communication. The
alternative is to remain in my prison, to endure
inch-by-inch death as a person."2

Denial of emotions (and motives) also causes the
exaggeration of opposite characteristics.
Saccharine-sweet people often seethe inwardly with
hostility. People who withdraw take their anger out on
others in underhanded passive-aggressive ways.
Withdrawal is a "dirty way to fight." The dogmatic are
riddled with self-doubts. The overconfident are
insecure. The extremely prudish are overcompensating
for sexual inadequacies. Others silence painful
feelings in over-busyness or go-go-go activity,
substance dependency, destructive behavior, overeating,
constant talking, unbalanced religious fervor,
theological rigidity, a controlling attitude, and so
on.

Others project their faults onto others, seeing in them
the very faults that lie hidden within themselves. They
simply cannot accept in others what they refuse to
accept in themselves. Or they might displace their bad
feelings by taking them out on somebody else. For
example, Fred may be angry at his boss, but fearing he
may lose his job if he says anything, takes his
feelings out on his wife and children.

We can also become experts at rationalization. For
example, when we deny our fears, we can unconsciously
sabotage our relationships, or set ourselves up to fail
in certain situations. We then brush off our failures
by making excuses, blaming others, or even by saying
what happened must have been God's will!

The challenge is, how do we learn to be honest with
ourselves? It isn't easy. For many, it's like learning
a new language. And as long as we are not honest with
ourselves, there is no way we can be honest with God or
anyone else. And without personal honesty, it is
impossible to have closeness and true intimacy with
anybody. However, there are some positive steps we can
take. We will discuss these in tomorrow's Daily
Encounter.

To be continued ...

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to get in
touch with all my emotions and my motives, and be
honest about these so that I will know wisdom in my
innermost being. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Psalm 51:6 (NLT).
2. John Powell, Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am?,
p. 61. Argus Communications, San Mateo, Illinois.
Copyright 1969. Used by permission.

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Wed 12 Jul 2017, 3:51 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Personal Honesty: Key to Effective Relationships Part I

"So he said, 'I heard Your voice in the garden, and I

was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.'"1

There was a time in my life when I thought that to be

liked, I had to be strong--strong like the Rock of

Gibraltar. Let the storms rage, the lightning strike,

the winds blast, and the seas beat violently against

it, and there it stands, solid as a rock and secure.

To me, fear was weak and anger bad, so you never showed

these emotions, and as a man you certainly never showed

your hurt feelings or cried. Through years of practice,

I learned to hide many of my emotions, put on a brave

front, and pretend to be something outwardly that I

wasn't feeling inwardly.

The trouble with being a rock, however, is that rocks

don't feel. They aren't real either, and they can't

relate intimately to anyone. Neither could I. Like the

first man, Adam, who feared rejection, "I, too, was

afraid, so I hid myself."

One of the serious side effects of denying and hiding

our emotions is that we deposit them in our unconscious

memory bank where they build up unhealthy interest. The

payoff is that we either withdraw or become defensive,

touchy, hostile, non-feeling, cold and distant, and/or

depressed.

Or we act out these buried emotions through destructive

behavior or physical illnesses. Medical science reminds

us that unresolved emotions such as fear, sorrow, envy,

resentment and hatred are responsible for many of our

sicknesses. Estimates vary from 60 percent to nearly

100 percent.2

The point is, whenever we fail to admit our faults and

talk or write out our negative feelings in creative

ways, we inevitably act them out in self-destructive

ways.

Dr. Cecil Osborne, author and counselor wrote, "Many

persons bury feelings which they find unacceptable. For

instance, one learned as a child that hate, greed,

jealousy, fear and lust were 'bad.' 'You shouldn't feel

that way,' is the message which the child received,

verbally or otherwise. Furthermore, by a clever bit of

unconscious dishonesty, one may have said to himself,

'A Christian never hates. I am a Christian, therefore I

never feel hatred.' And the aggression which is part of

the normal equipment of an average human being is then

buried in the unconscious, only to come out in some

unacceptable form, often as a physical symptom."3

Denial of emotions also acts as poison to

relationships. It erects "brick walls" around the heart

and suffocates love, intimacy and closeness.

To be continued ...

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please deliver me from the

sin of dishonesty (denial) and help me to be honest and

real with myself, others, and with You. Thank You for

hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'

name, amen."

1. Genesis 3:10 (NKJV).

2. S. I. McMillan, None of These Diseases, Marshall,

Morgan and Scott, 1966, p. 7.

3. Leader's Handbook, p. 32. Yokefellows Inc.,

Millbrae, California.

< Smile

)))><



NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness

for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon

Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or

if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,

please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.



* * * * * * *



Daily Encounter is published at no charge by

ACTS International, a non-profit organization,

and made possible through the donations of

interested friends. Donations can be sent at:

  http://www.actscom.com



ACTS International

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U.S.A.



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  http://www.actsweb.org



Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

Admin Mon 10 Jul 2017, 11:38 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Dare to Be Honest

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

In Moody Monthly George Sweeting wrote some time ago
about the desperate need for honesty in our culture. He
referred to Dr. Madison Sarratt, who taught mathematics
at Vanderbilt University for many years, who, before
giving a test, would caution his class something like
this:

"Today I am giving two examinations: one in
trigonometry and the other in honesty. I hope you will
pass them both. If you must fail one, fail
trigonometry. There are many good people in the world
who can't pass trig, but there are no good people in
the world who cannot pass the examination of honesty."

In the news in some time ago we heard more about
cheaters in high school, cheaters in college, cheaters
in politics, cheaters in business…. Cheaters may appear
to win in the short run but the fact remains, in the
long run cheaters never win. Sooner or later their
cheating will catch up with them. The broker who
cheated on me and stole my retirement fund spent six
years in jail, and that's small punishment in terms of
his self-punishment in what he has done to his
self-concept and character. Will anyone ever trust him
again?

The tragedy is that the more our society accepts
cheating and personal dishonesty as a way of life, the
more we hurt ourselves and ultimately our society.
Self-governing to survive for the long haul is
dependent on the honesty, good will and character of
those being governed. When we can no longer be trusted
to abide by the laws--especially the laws as found in
the Ten Commandments, which were given for the benefit
and freedom of every society, the law will end up
governing us not as a democracy but as a dictatorship
or some other form of legalistic bondage. In fact,
without honesty, character and sound ethics, a free
society cannot survive as a free society for the long
term.

God's laws are for the good of all. We defy them to our
peril.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for Your laws
that are given for the good of all. Please give me a
great respect and appreciation of all of Your laws and
the courage to abide by them. And please help me to be
honest with myself, with You, and with others in all of
my dealings. Thank You for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Joshua 1:7 (NIV).

< Smile

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

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

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
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U.S.A.

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
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Admin Mon 03 Jul 2017, 10:40 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

The Bishop Who Lost His Way

Jesus said, "Heaven can be entered only through the
narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate
is wide for all . . . who choose its easy way. But the
Gate-way to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and
only a few ever find it."1

Some years ago Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was scheduled to
speak at the town hall in an unfamiliar city. He
decided to walk and on the way got lost. He saw some
boys so asked them the way to City Hall.

"What are you going to do there?" asked one of the
boys.

"I'm going to give a lecture," replied the bishop.

"About what?"

"On how to get to heaven. Would you care to come
along?"

"Are you kidding?" said the boy, "You don't even know
how to get to City Hall!"

How tragic that so many people are lost, not on their
way to any human address but on the way to their
eternal destination. So many believe, as I once did,
that if I did enough good things to outweigh the bad
things I had done, that would get me into God's heaven.

Not so, I'm afraid. Jesus said, "I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the Father [God]
except through me."2 This is because, no matter how
good we may be by human standards, every one of us is
born with the "dis-ease of sin." And if God allowed
sin's disease into heaven, it would destroy heaven as
it has earth.

The only way to God and heaven is not through our good
works but by accepting God's Son, Jesus Christ, as our
personal Lord and Savior. Jesus died to pay the penalty
of our sin so he could deliver us from the effects of
sin's disease which is eternal death and separation
from God--the source of all love and life.

Because of what Jesus did, God now offers you and me a
free pardon for all our sins. All we need to do is
admit we are sinners, thank Jesus for dying on the
cross in our place for our sin, invite him into our
life as personal Lord and Savior, and accept his
forgiveness, his gift of eternal life, and a home in
heaven forever. This is God's special Christmas to all
who believe.

Had there been any other way to be in a right
relationship with God and heaven, then God never would
have had to send his Son to die on the cross for us.
So, if you have never accepted God's gift of
forgiveness and eternal life, and would like help to do
that right now, be sure to read: How to Be Sure You’re
a Real Christian without having to be religious at:
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for Your great
Christmas love gift to the world and for giving Your
Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sins. I believe
and ask You to forgive all my sins. And Jesus, thank
You for dying on the cross in my place and I invite You
into my heart and life to be my Lord and Savior. Help
me to live for You always in all ways. Thank You for
hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

1. Matthew 7:13-14 (TLB) (NLT).
2. John 14:6 (NIV).

< Smile

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

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Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
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and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
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U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050
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When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
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Admin Thu 29 Jun 2017, 10:05 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Gott Ist Gut

"Each of you should look not only to your own
interests, but also to the interests of others. Your
attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."1

In the book, Finding Hope Again, Roy Fairchild told how
he had come to Vienna after a two-week illness in a
small Austrian village. He had spent most of his money
on medical costs and his last cent to take a train to
Vienna to try and find his friends with whom he had
been traveling.

As he was standing in one of the street car stations in
the center of the city, tired, hungry and discouraged,
a little old wrinkled lady, one of the ladies whose job
was to sweep out the station, came to him and asked him
if he were hungry.

Before he could answer she took her own lunch from a
brown paper bag and offered him half of it. He said he
was so moved by her action that he has never forgotten
her face or her kindness and the sparkle in her eye.

They talked for more than an hour about her life. She
was raised in the country on a farm knowing only hard
work. Since then she had lost her husband and two sons
in the Resistance. Only her daughter had survived but
she said that she was very thankful for many things.

When asking her why she offered him half her lunch the
lady simply said, "Jesu ist mein Herr. Gott ist gut
(Jesus is my Lord. God is good)."

This story reminds me of one of my favorite hymns
written by Kate B. Wilkinson. Let's make it our prayer
for today and every day:

"Dear God,

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By his love and pow'r controlling,
All I do and say.
May his beauty rest upon me
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only him.

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

1. Philippians 2:4-5 (NIV).

< Smile

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

Phone: 949-940-9050
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When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
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Today's Daily Encounter

Feeling Loved and Accepted

Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another."1

Most of my generation (at least), "know how much the
world fawned over actress, Marilyn Monroe. Perhaps
fewer know how rejected she felt throughout her life. A
reporter from the New York Times was interviewing her
and, being aware of her troubled background, posed the
following question: 'Did you ever feel loved by any of
the foster families with whom you lived?'

"'Once,' Marilyn replied, 'when I was about seven or
eight. The woman I was living with was putting on
makeup, and I was watching her. She was in a happy
mood, so she reached over and patted my cheeks with her
rouge puff. . . . For that moment, I felt loved by
her.'"2

How incredibly sad. One can understand why Marilyn
ended her life at the height of her popularity. All the
fame, attention, popularity and money together can
never fill the empty void of an aching, lonely heart--a
heart that deep down doesn't feel loved.

Some time ago I watched Larry King interviewing Winona
Judd on his TV program, Larry King Live. Winona has
sold millions of copies of her recordings, and has
achieved fame as one of the all time greats in female
Country music. It was fascinating to hear her
background. If I remember correctly, her father
deserted her mother before she was born. Winona never
got to see him before he died. She was crushed when she
learned of his passing. She, too, struggled much of her
personal life and shared how desperately lonely she
felt when, after being on stage and adored by thousands
of fans, had to go back to a hotel room alone. Winona
may have had a loving mother, but she felt the terrible
pains of not having a loving father.

Winona also spoke of her faith and said she is doing
much better these days in her personal life. After
hearing her story, one can understand why the title of
one of her albums is, "What the World Needs Now Is
Love."

How true this is. Without knowing a mother and a
father's love, which millions of people growing up in
today's society don't know, we limp along in the
shadows of life trying to eke out a meager existence
which no amount of fame, popularity or riches can meet.
Loneliness, as it has been medically shown, can break
your heart and take years off your life. Karen
Carpenter, another famous singer--one who inadvertently
starved herself to death--hauntingly sang, "Loneliness
. . . it's such a sad affair."

People desperately need, not only God's love, but the
love of God's people through whom, for many, is the
only way they will ever find and experience God's love.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in the midst of a lonely
world where so many are looking for love in all the
wrong ways and places, please help me to share your
love with a lonely person today and, in so doing, may
they sense that they have been touched by you. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus' name, amen."

1. John 13:34 (NIV).
2. Helen Colton, The Gift of Touch (NY: Seaview/Putnam,
1983), p. 102. Adapted. Cited on www.eSermons.com.

< Smile

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

* * * * * * *

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

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.
Phone: 949-940-9050
http://www.actsweb.org
Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

Admin Tue 27 Jun 2017, 11:36 am

Today's Daily Encounter

Going out on a Limb

"Choose you this day whom you will serve . . . But as
for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."1

"Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. That's where the
fruit is," said one insightful person.

To achieve anything worthwhile in life that has eternal
value and dividends, we need to genuinely serve God. To
do this we may need to go out on a limb and be willing
to swim against the tide of popular thought, to be
different but not odd, assertive but not aggressive,
strong but not pushy, meek but not weak, honest and
truthful but not unkind.

We may, at times, even be considered a little bit
crazy, but as another has said, "You've got to be a
little bit crazy because if you always keep both feet
on the ground, you can never get your pants on!"

Seriously, to serve God, also means knowing what your
God-given life purpose is; that is, knowing what God
wants you to be and what he wants you to do with your
life. It will include having a worthwhile goal and work
into which you can put your heart and best efforts. But
doing this can be scary because like Noah, Abraham and
other men and women of faith we, too, (even if it isn't
to the same extent) may need to step out in faith and
go out on a limb! But remember, that's where the fruit
is.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the courage
and help me to so live in harmony with Your will that,
when necessary, I will not be afraid to go out on a
limb, so that whatever I do--with Your help--will be
fruitful, productive and bring glory to Your name.
Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Joshua 24:15 (NIV).

< Smile

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
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Admin Mon 26 Jun 2017, 10:13 pm

Today's Daily Encounter
A Father's Blessing
"When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, 'Who are
these?' 'They are the sons God has given me here,'
Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, 'Bring
them to me so I may bless them.'"1
One of the major causes of emotional and relational
conflicts among teens, adults, and even children is
that of fatherless homes, absentee fathers, emotionally
uninvolved fathers, and/or abusive fathers. In God's
economy and plan fathers have an extremely important
and significant role to play, not only providing for
their children's physical needs, but also for their
emotional and spiritual needs. Equally important is the
God-given role of mothers, but today we are focusing on
fathers.
Regardless of what women's libbers and/or gay couples
try to tell us, one of the greatest needs for healthy
homes and families--healthy children, teens, and
healthy, mature adults--is to have (or to have had) a
father who is/was not only present emotionally, but
also affirming, loving, accepting, and loving and
giving full support to his wife--the mother of his
children--and modeling what it means to be a kind,
loving and supportive father, man, and adult. Every
child needs this support and blessing from his/her
father. The importance of this for the healthy
nurturing of children simply cannot be over-emphasized.
For a few simple tips on being a supportive father,
listen to what Gary Smalley, popular author and
psychologist, had to say after he asked 100 people,
"What is one specific way you knew that you had
received your father's blessing?"
Here are some of those answers:
1. "My father would put his arm around me at church and
let me lay my head on his shoulder."
2. "When my father was facing being transferred at
work, he purposely took another job so that I could
finish my senior year in high school at the same
school."
3. "When I wrecked my parent's car, my father's first
reaction was to hug me and let me cry instead of
yelling at me."
4. "When I was thirteen, my dad trusted me to use his
favorite hunting rifle when I was invited to go hunting
with a friend and his father."
5. "My father went with me when I had to take back an
ugly dress a saleswoman had talked me into buying."
6. "My father would let me practice pitching to him for
a long time when he got home from work."
7. "Even though I had never seen him cry before, my
father cried during my wedding because he was going to
miss my no longer being at home."2
Perhaps the greatest need of fathers is to be
emotionally as well as physically present for his wife
and children. At the same time, it's the multiplication
of the everyday little loving, caring things over the
years that help a child to feel affirmed and blessed by
his/her father.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to be the kind of
father (or mother) you want me to be. And please help
me to be a channel of your love, and because of your
love flowing through me, grant that my children will
know without a shadow of a doubt that they have indeed
been blessed by their father. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Genesis 48:8-9 (NIV).
2. Gary Smalley, adapted for www.eSermons.com, Sept
2003.
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NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness
for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon
Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or
if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ,
please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
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Admin Fri 23 Jun 2017, 12:59 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

It's Only Words

"Encouraging words well spoken," wrote Solomon, "are
like golden apples in silver settings."1

"It's only words and words are all I have to take your
heart away." These words are from one of my favorite
songs sung by the Bee Gees. Obviously, words can have a
powerful effect either for good or for bad, for healing
or for hurting, for encouraging or discouraging, or for
making others laugh or cry.

With words, we can inspire people and even nations to
noble deeds of courage, such as the words Sir Winston
Churchill broadcast to spur the British people on to
victory when, during World War II, Britain's back was
against the wall as she was being bombarded by
Germany's relentless air raid attacks. Forty-seven of
her warships had been sunk. The Royal Air Force had
lost 40 percent of its bomber strength. Britain was on
the brink of famine and was facing imminent invasion.

Here's what Churchill said in this hour of great need:
"We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be;
we shall fight on the beaches; we shall fight in the
fields; we shall fight in the streets; and we shall
fight in the hills. We shall never surrender."2

Or with people such as the Hitlers and the Saddam
Husseins of the world, words can be used to motivate
people to dastardly deeds of treachery, murder,
slaughter, and relentless acts of terrorism.

Most of us, of course, will never be in a position to
move multitudes of people, but every single one of us
is in a position to make a big difference in the life
of at least one person--and in realty, the lives of
many people if we are so inclined.

Life is filled with plenty of negatives, setbacks,
unkind and hurtful words. And so we all need words of
encouragement. Let's not fail to give such a word to at
least one person every day whether they are young or
old because:

Words spoken
may soon pass away
and forgotten be,
but when expressed
in love and kindness
are like beautiful flowers,
and even though
they fade and die
from conscious memory,
Their fragrance lives on
embedded in the
deeper mind -
forever.3

Dick Innes

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to have a
loving heart, keeping in mind that 'out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.' Please use me
and the words I speak to encourage a fellow struggler
along the way . . . and especially to encourage,
motivate, and inspire my loved ones at home. Thank you
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 25:11 (Paraphrase).
2. Reported by Benjamin P. Browne.
3. Dick Innes. This poem, beautifully presented ready
for framing, is available from
http://www.actscom.com/store or at:
http://tinyurl.com/words-spoken.

< Smile

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

Admin Thu 22 Jun 2017, 9:29 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

When You Don't Know What to Do

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those
who weep."1

"John Patton, in his book, From Ministry to Theology,
relates the story of a rather green chaplaincy
resident, naive to many of the pressures and pains of a
teaching hospital. While on call one night, the intern
was summoned to the room of a woman whose baby had been
stillborn a few hours earlier. 'We want our baby
baptized,' the young mother said, cradling her lifeless
daughter, her husband at her side. 'Her name is
Nicole.'

"The intern didn't know what to do, but asked them to
come to the chapel a few minutes later. In the meantime
he tried to find another, more experienced chaplain to
take over, but to no avail. He was on his own and quite
unsure as to how to proceed. He had not only
professional uncertainties about what he had been asked
to do, but theological qualms as well. Still, he knew
he had to meet with grieving parents. He sketched in
his mind something to say, hoping it would be
appropriate to the moment.

"The young parents arrived at the appointed time, but
the chaplain found he could not say what he had
prepared. Instead, and almost without realizing what he
was doing, he took a tissue, wiped at the tears in the
eyes of the parents, then wiped his own tears and
touched the tissue to the baby's head and said,
'Nicole, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.' He said nothing
else--the tears were more eloquent than words could
have been."2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me an
understanding and tender heart so that I will always
rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who
weep. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Romans 12:15 (NKJV).
2. Thomas R.Steagald, "More Eloquent Than Words,"
Michael Duduit in The Abingdon Preaching Annual, 1995
(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994), pp. 316-317. Cited
on www.sermons.com.

< Smile

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Wed 21 Jun 2017, 11:20 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

When Will Jesus Come Again?

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God,
believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many
mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again and receive you to
Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."1

Over the centuries it seems there has never been a
shortage of would-be prophets who claimed to have a
corner on the truth . . . several of whom were
convinced of the very day Christ would return to earth
to take his true followers with him to Heaven.

For instance, "After 14 years of studying the Bible,
William Miller became convinced that Christ would
return in 1843. When Miller announced April 3 as the
day, some disciples went to mountaintops, hoping for a
head start to heaven. Others were in graveyards,
planning to ascend in reunion with their departed loved
ones. Philadelphia society ladies clustered together
outside town to avoid entering God's kingdom amid the
common herd. When April 4 dawned as usual the
Millerites were disillusioned, but they took heart.
Their leader had predicted a range of dates for
Christ's return. They still had until March 21, 1844.
The devout continued to make ready, but again they were
disappointed. A third date, October 22, 1844, was set,
but it also, obviously, passed."2

The Bible also predicts a seven-year-time of great
tribulation that will occur at or about the time of
Christ's Second coming. Among serious Bible scholars,
some believe Christ will come before the great
tribulation--these people are called pre-trib
believers. Others believe Christ will come at the end
of the great tribulation--these are known as post-trib
believers. Then there are the mid-trib scholars who
believe Christ will come in the middle of the great
tribulation.

However, as Jesus himself said, only God the Father
knows the exact day and hour of Christ's return. The
important thing for his followers is (1) not to get
caught up in arguing about the details of Christ's
return, but to do as Jesus did when he was here on
earth; and that is "to be about our Father's Business,"
and (2) to make absolute sure that we are ready for
Christ's return; for he will come when least expected.

Of one thing we can be certain--just as sure as we are
of Christ's first coming we can be equally sure about
his second coming. Jesus is coming again. He promised
he would . . . it could be today . . . or it could be
in the near or far-off future. However, if Jesus should
come today, would you be ready?

To make sure you are ready for when Jesus comes again
to earth, be sure to read the article, "How to be Sure
You're a Real Christian" at
http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the
wonderful promise that Jesus is coming again to take
all your true followers to be with you for all eternity
in Heaven. Please help me to know that I know that I
know that I am ready for that great and glorious day.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. John 14:1-3 (NKJV).
2. Adapted from Today in the Word, December 20, 1991.
Cited on www.eSermons.com.

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Tue 20 Jun 2017, 3:39 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

For Whom Are You Playing?

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as
working for the Lord, not for men."1

Perhaps you have read the story told by Coach Bertman,
the successful athletic director at Louisiana State
University. But it's well worth a reminder in how it
helps if we're playing and/or working for someone else.
Here's the story as told by Michael Josephson in
Character Counts.

"Coach Bertman emphasized the idea that his players
were never simply acting for themselves. He reminded
them: 'You represent LSU, your family and your Maker.'"

On one occasion "he told a story about a young man
named John who played football for Columbia University
in the 1930s. Well, actually, John was on the squad
because he had a terrific attitude, but he was a bench
warmer who hadn't been in a single game.

"During his senior year, John's father died. When he
returned from the funeral he asked his coach if he
could start in the next game to honor his dad. The
coach couldn't refuse, but he warned John that it
probably would be only for a few plays.

"To the coach's surprise, John played so well that he
was declared the game's most valuable player. When the
coach asked John how he was able to play at such a high
level after just losing his father, John said, 'You
know, coach, my dad came to every game. You probably
saw me walking with him holding his arm. That's because
he was blind. Well, I figure today was the first time
he ever saw me play. I was playing for my daddy.'"2

I'm not going to argue whether John's dad saw his son
play or not. But it's certainly true in that whatever
we as Christians do, we'll do it better if and when we
do it as unto the Lord knowing that He sees all and
that He keeps the final score.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in all that I do, please
help me to do it as unto you, so that I will always put
forth my best effort to help others and to glorify you.
And please help me to remember that I am never out of
your sight. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Colossians 3:23 (NIV).
2. Michael Josephson, Character Counts. You can
subscribe to Michael Josephson's Character Counts
inspiring weekly email at www.charactercounts.org.

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Thu 15 Jun 2017, 11:35 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Healing Life's Hurts Part II

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and
will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness."1

Continuing from yesterday's Daily Encounter, very
cautiously Jennifer (a repeated rape victim) began to
share. Then her feelings came rushing out in torrents.
It was the first time in her life she completely shared
her years of bottled-up emotions. This catharsis
(emptying out) was essential to open the way for
Jennifer to begin to heal. Without first taking this
step, she couldn't be freed from the past so that she
could, in time, move to a point of forgiveness. After
three days of painful sharing, we prayed for Jennifer.
She went back to her room and returned some time later
looking like a different person. She put on a pretty
blouse, makeup, fixed her hair, and came in wearing a
million-dollar smile. She had a long road ahead but her
healing and freedom from the past had begun.

More than a year after the seminars I ran into Jennifer
again. She had sought out Christian counseling and
although her progress was slow, she was doing
incredibly well. Her spiritual and emotional healing
was well underway.

Jennifer's story is by no means unusual as there are
millions of others who have been sexually, physically
and/or emotionally abused--and even spiritually abused.
Others of us, while not suffering such extreme abuse,
still have our share of wounds and unmet needs. We live
in a sinful, fallen world and none of us escape the
ravages of sin. Every family has some "dysfunction."
True, some families are more dysfunctional than others,
but every family has been affected. Some of us are
either co-dependent or overly independent. Others of us
are detached, perfectionistic, prone to angry
outbursts, withdraw when we are hurt or angry,
excessively anxious, or sad. Each of us needs some
spiritual, emotional, or relational healing.

One of the facts of life is that we are destined to
repeat in one form or another those dysfunctions we
fail to resolve, or take out our hurt and anger on the
ones we love--and then pass on our dysfunctions to our
children! The Bible says, "The sins [including the
emotional sins] of the fathers [parents] are visited to
the third and fourth generation."2 This is why it is
imperative that, with God's help, we resolve them. The
following steps will help.

First, we need to admit that we have been hurt, that we
have a problem, and that we need healing.

Second, we need to want healing badly enough to be
willing to face our pain rather than bury it. As Jesus,
the Master Physician, said to a man who had been an
invalid for 38 years: "Do you want to get well?"3 It
sounds like a silly question but it is really profound.
We have to want to get better badly enough to face our
hidden or painful hurts. Only those who want to be
healed will be. The half-hearted never make it.

To be continued . . .

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be
ruthlessly honest with myself and with you and see and
admit where I need healing. Help me, too, to understand
the healing process according to the principles found
in your Word, and please lead me to the help I need to
get to the root cause/s of my problems and resolve
these. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 John 1:9 (NIV).
2. Deuteronomy 5:9.
3. John 5:6.

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

Admin Mon 12 Jun 2017, 7:22 pm

Today's Daily Encounter

Be Anxious for Nothing

Jesus said, "And why do you worry about clothes? See
how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or
spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his
splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how
God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today
and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much
more clothe you, O you of little faith?"1

As most of our Daily Encounter readers know, I grew up
in Australia, a land that is only slightly smaller than
mainland USA, but there are more people within a 200
mile radius of where I now live in Southern California
than the whole of Australia combined. It seems that
most of them are on the LA freeways at the same time
during the rush hour traffic. Why they call it rush
hour I'll never know. As another has said, it should be
called slow hour!

However, recently when I was driving home from Los
Angeles on the busy 405 freeway--where it was ten lanes
wide with hundreds of cars traveling at high speed in
both directions--I noticed a young palm tree growing
out of a crack in the pavement at the foot of the
three-foot-high concrete barrier right in the middle of
the freeway that separates the speeding traffic flowing
in opposite directions. This tiny tree was only about a
meter or so from the fast lane and was totally
oblivious to the thousands of cars that zip by at high
speed every hour of the day and night. The thought of
it blew me away.

Now, I have no ambition to plant myself where that palm
tree had planted itself--that may be okay for a palm
tree but not for people--to plant one's self in such a
situation would be suicide. But in the midst of the
rush and bustle of everyday life with all its endless
pressures, little by little I'm working on learning to
trust in God and be calm and peaceful (like that palm
tree), realizing that, in the words of the unknown
poet:

'Tis not the softer things of life
Which stimulate man's will to strive;
But bleak adversity and strife
Do most to keep man's will alive.
O'er rose-strewn paths the weaklings creep,
But brave hearts dare to climb the steep.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, again today I commit and
trust my life and way to you in all that I am and do.
Help me to trust you no matter what this day may bring,
and not become anxious or afraid knowing that my times
are in your hands. Thank you for hearing and answering
my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Matthew 6:28-30 (NIV).

< Smile

)))><

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

* * * * * * *

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

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

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

Copyright (c) 2016 by ACTS International.

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

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