What to Do when Your Gift Arrives

“Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Jesus, Luke 17:18)

Have you ever had a gift you wanted so badly for so long, but once you got it, you didn’t even care? That’s how people can be sometimes. The day I got a new iPad, I was the happiest girl in the world. I thought my life had changed. Then days later, it was at the bottom of a pile in my room. I wasn’t that thankful.

God doesn’t want us to be like that. He is looking for people that will come back and thank Him when they get their long-awaited gift. Listen to this story of ten lepers who Jesus healed:

As He entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you” (Luke 17:12-19)

10 were healed, but only 1 said thank you. Which one will you be? You can decide to be thankful in advance, actually—even before your gift comes. Mary and Elizabeth, the mothers of Jesus and John the Baptist are great examples. While they were still pregnant, they both glorified God, thanking Him for what was promised to them. Here’s what they said:

Mary: “How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For He took notice of His lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:47,48)

Elizabeth: “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children” (Luke 1:25)

They didn’t even have their promise totally fulfilled yet, but they both praised the Lord and were deeply thankful in advance. I want to be like that, and I want you to be like that too. It just takes some planning and mind-setting while we wait. As we celebrate the birth of our long-awaited Savior, can we also set our hearts to be grateful to God for what’s to come? Let’s be like Mary and Elizabeth, who glorified God while the baby was still in their womb. God has great plans for us in 2012.

So this Christmas week, let’s pray together that:

• We will rest in peace and glorify God for what He will bring us in 2012
• We will be deeply grateful when our gifts finally do come
• Global Media Outreach would rejoice in the great things God is doing

Merry Christmas! God loves you!

Discover the Power of Expectation

“’Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?’ says the LORD. ‘Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?’ says your God” (Isaiah 66:9)

“Are you expecting?” That’s what people ask a pregnant woman. There are 9 months between the conception and long-awaited birth of a child, and God did it that way on purpose. Why would He make a woman wait through 9 months of pregnancy? It might be the same reason He makes you wait from the conception of your promise and the time when it finally arrives…

Expectancy Prepares the Way for the Promise. It is the graciousness of God that a woman does not have a crying baby on her hands right after conception. Can you imagine? Whaaaaaa! cries the baby, begging to be fed and nurtured by a woman totally unprepared. But during those 9 months, she has the time to plan what kind of mother she’ll be and rearrange her life for her unborn baby. Could it be that God has given you this waiting period to develop into the person who can handle His coming promise?

The Greatest Birth Right before Jesus came to give salvation, the world was pregnant with the hope of a Savior that God had promised thousands of years earlier. And this is what God told the people during their time of expectation:

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

What is the terrain of your heart? Mountains might be prideful areas that cause you not to see; valleys might be weaknesses you think you can’t get past. But God is working in your life to smooth out the road of your heart to receive the amazing things He has for you! “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him" (I Corinthians 2:9). Take this time He is giving you to prepare your heart for His promise—so that it will bring Him glory and you joy.

For Example Say you believe God has promised you to be very successful in business. What are you going to do with all your wealth when it comes? Hoard it, or use it to build His kingdom? You decide now how you will be and can prepare by being generous with whatever you have. Or say you are waiting for God to give you a spouse. You can decide now what kind of spouse you will be (a loving, selfless one or a selfish, brittle one) and dedicate your future marriage to the Lord. What is your example? Take a moment and think about it.

God has NOT forgotten you. Listen to what He says to you today: “God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change his mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?” (Numbers 23:19). He wants you to be well-prepared for His promise. You can use this time He has given you to prepare for the amazing future He has for you!

So this week, let’s all pray together that:

• We would be prepared for the great promises God has for us
• We would not get discouraged, but know that God WILL perform what He has promised
• Global Media Outreach would get prepared for the great things God has for us to do

We care deeply for you and your issues! We want GodLife.com to be a place of hope and healing for you. Respond to this e-mail if you need prayer or help with troubles in your life! Get daily encouragement by becoming a GodLife fan God loves you so much!

How God Wants to Help You Receive Your Promise

“By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them” (Hebrews 11:33)

Just Keep Swimming. When I was little, my parents made me go to swimming lessons. I was so afraid that I got sick to my stomach every time I stood in front of the pool. But I had a nice coach who wanted to give me the accomplishment of swimming the entire pool. It was so long! There was no way I thought I could do it, but here’s what he would do: He would stand in the shallow-end of the pool and invite me in. “Just swim to me,” he said. Ok, that I can do. But then he would move back a little farther. “Just keep swimming, Amy. Don’t stop paddling.” I swam a little more. He kept doing this until suddenly I was at the end. I was so amazed—I never dreamed I could do that! He helped me the entire way with his closeness, the promise of his reach to save me, his encouraging voice saying, “Just keep swimming.”

That’s what faith is. It is the continual reach to get something great. Try this with me now, even though it seems a little silly: Reach out your hand as far as it will go, as if for something just at the edge of your grasp. I want you to remember that feeling as we read about one unlikely woman’s amazing reach of faith:

As Jesus went with him, He was surrounded by the crowds. A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of His robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. “Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against You.” But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched Me, for I felt healing power go out from Me.” When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of Him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched Him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Jesus said it was her faiththat made her well, showing how much God values faith. Imagine this woman’s obstacles: all the crowds, the larger men, the people who disdained her because of her sickness, and the countless disappointments of failed cures. But to push through the crowds, bear the shame, and reach out to Jesus, she had to believe that what was on the end of her reach was worth it: that Jesus had the power no one else had. This is the essence of faith. “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Maybe you’ve been treading water awhile in the pool of your promise. You haven’t quite given up, but you don’t feel you have the strength to keep paddling. God wants to help you today. Just like my swim coach was there to help me if I got tired or scared, God is near you to uphold you and encourage you to keep going. 2 Timothy 2:13 says, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful— for He cannot deny Himself.”

God wants you to know today that He is faithful when you are faithless, and He wants to help get you to the other side to receive your promise. Reach out today and tell Him, “Help! I want to keep kicking. Please give me Your strength.”

So this week, let’s all pray together—for ourselves and each other—that:

• God would renew the vision of the promise He has given us
• We would reach out to God to receive His strength to keep going in faith
• Global Media Outreach would reach those we haven’t been able to reach before

Why don’t you post about the promise you are believing for at the GodLife Prayer Wall? We can all pray for each other and see God help us as a united group get to the other side

Your Friends at GodLife.com

How to Win the Waiting Game

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:3,4)

They say, “A watched pot never boils”—meaning, if you impatiently obsess over what you’re waiting for, it’s going to take forever. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever had something you wanted SO bad that it was all you could think about—and it almost drove you crazy? I know I have.

There is a way to not only survive the waiting game, but to win it. You win by making THE MOST of your wait. Imagine waiting for that pot of water to boil. You could either stand tapping your foot in front of the stove, getting more impatient by the minute. OR, you could realize that the pot will whistle when it’s ready and find something productive or fun to do in the meantime, like clean the kitchen or read a book. Not only will the time go by faster, but you will have accomplished much while you waited!

The Bible confirms this secret to maximizing our wait in Psalm 37:3,4; Look for the 2 key words:

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness”

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart”

Did you see the 2 keys? Faithfulness and Delight. Faithfulness is when you’re tempted to give up but you keep holding onto God in trust and doing what He wants you to do. And delight is just enjoying your relationship with God, regardless of your circumstances. Let’s look at Joseph for a perfect example:

Joseph had dreamt early on that he would be a great leader. But then his brothers sold him into slavery, and on top of that, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison! Talk about the opposite of his dreams! But instead of giving up or cursing God, Joseph served God faithfully, no matter where he was. “But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him His faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed” (Genesis 39:21-23).

Even in the terrible wait, Joseph was faithful and delighted in God. What Joseph didn’t know was that he would be promoted from the prison to Pharoah’s palace and manage all of Egypt’s land. God was preparing him for this responsibility while he was waiting in slavery and prison. What if Joseph had given up early? What if he had denied God in the hardship?

Now let’s talk about you. What’s your dream? Maybe it’s been a long time coming and you’ve almost given up hope. Don’t! God is preparing you to do the great works He has called you to. I Corinthians 2:9 says, “"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." But you have to wait for His perfect timing. You can come out on the other side by doing what God wants and enjoying Him while you wait. Like Jospeh, you will be so thankful that He prepared you so well when it comes!

Let’s wait for God’s dreams for us together! Find support for your dreams at the GodLife Facebook Community!

So this week, let’s pray together that:

• We would make the most of our waiting time
• We would continue to enjoy God and be faithful to Him
• Global Media Outreach would expand to the right and the left

We here at Global Media Outreach love you SO much!

The Key to Living your Dream Life

“Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph's character” (Psalm 105:19)

What is your dream life? When you close your eyes and think about the life that would bring you the most peace and deep joy, what do you see? Take a minute right now. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and ask God to show you His dreams for you. What did you see? Anything? Don’t worry if you don’t know your dreams yet; God will show them to you with time. He says, “Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come” (Jeremiah 33:3). But if you DO know your dreams, what is the key to fulfilling your dream life?

You know, MANY people in the Bible had to wait for their dream. Abraham waited decades to have a baby; Moses had to endure Pharoah’s intimidation and 10 plagues until God’s people were released; and David had to run for years in the wilderness until he was made king. These are just a few examples! But the greatest wait in the Bible was for Jesus, the Messiah. God promised Him thousands of years in advance, and only a few were still waiting for Him when He finally came.

One of them was Simeon. “At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of your people Israel!’” (Luke 2:25-32).

Simeon WAITED for his promise, and that’s the KEY for you too. Waiting isn’t glamorous. In fact, it’s really hard. But it’s the key to obtaining your promise from God. Maybe He has promised you healing, maybe a great marriage, or maybe your kids serving the Lord. Whatever it is, it’s going to take patience. That’s just the way God is. He uses the waiting period to make us better, to make us ready for the promise. “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph's character” (Psalm 105:19).

While You Wait In the meantime, what is the best thing to do while you wait? The Bible gives you several tips, and that’s what we are going to talk about this next month, while we wait to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Together, we are going to learn from the Bible on how to wait effectively and obtain our promises, because I am right alongside you in this! I have many things I am waiting on, and sometimes it gets hard to keep believing! But God wants us to renew our faith and wait in great expectation. “Indeed, none who wait for You shall be put to shame” (Psalm 25:3). Let’s do it together.

So this week, let’s pray together that:

• God would show us the dreams He has for us
• We would have the patience to wait for His promises
• Global Media Outreach would see the dreams God has for us

We LOVE you so much and want to PRAY for and HEAR about YOUR dreams!Get prayer by responding to the GodLife community your dreams at the GodLife facebook page

How to be a CAUSE for Thanksgiving

“When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father” (John 15:8)

Did you know that one small act from you could CHANGE someone’s LIFE? When I was a teenager, hard-hearted toward God, a Christian told me he was praying for me and that God had a great plan for my life. I had thought God wanted nothing to do with me, and that man told me it couldn’t be further from the truth. That small seed of hope grew into a tree of faith that completely changed my life. I am so thankful to Mark Coffin for showing me Jesus’ love.

When you show God’s love to someone, you are planting a seed in their life—and the potential is tremendous. Jesus said His kingdom is “like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants” (Mark 4:31,32). Like Mark with me, your small act of kindness could change someone’s eternal destiny. Take a moment to think about someone who needs encouragement and how you could show God’s love to them.

Unimaginable Impact. Now, imagine you were not alone in showing Jesus’ love, but joined with Christians all around the world. It’s the difference between one person planting a fruit tree in their yard and a person on every street doing it. If we all joined together, the world could be full of life.

What if we could link the 1-2 billion Christians to do united acts of God’s love to those around us, everyday? That is the vision behind JET: Jesus, Everywhere, Together. Through Facebook and Twitter (each hotlinks), we will be sending you JET moments. It might be a call to pray for your neighbor, or a prompt to tell someone about Jesus’ love. We will join together all around the world to do them and update each other on our stories. Jesus said to us, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). Imagine how much light in the world we can produce if we all band together!

How to be Involved:

Join our Facebook Community: We will post JET moments and you can tell the GodLife community how you have participated and share the moment with others. We will post the exciting stories you share in this newsletter.

Get Informed through Twitter: Stay up-to-date with the latest JET moments by receiving GodLife tweets right to your phone or computer.

Invite your Friends: Know someone who would like to be part of the JET group? Forward this e-mail to them. The goal is to unite the body of Christ. The more people, the more light we produce!

Thank you for joining together to share Jesus’ love with the world. I am so thankful for how Mark changed my life; and I know you can be a cause of thanksgiving for many others too.

We love and care about you. If you have any prayer requests, please reply to this e-mail and we will be glad to pray with you. God loves you so much!

Let’s pray together this week that:

• We could join together as Jesus’ body and show His love to the world
• God would give us creative ideas to reach others around us
• www.GodLife.comhttp: would be a place of refuge and healing for people

Your Friends at GodLife.com

Are You Breaking the Law?

“Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Mark 4:25)

Have you ever thrown money away? Sometimes I see small coins lying around the house and want to throw them away, just for a cleaning quick-fix. However, I recently found out that it is illegal to permanently discard or destroy money!

Did you know it’s illegal in God’s Kingdom too? But your currency isn’t paper bills or coins: it’s your gifts and abilities. Jesus told a story about three servants who were given different amounts of money by their master. The two with the most invested it and gained more, but the one with the least hid it in the ground out of fear. When the master returned, he congratulated and promoted the two profitable servants, but said about the scared servant, “Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Matthew 25:28,29).

What talents do you have? And are you hiding them out of fear? No matter what, God has given you something—and He wants you to use it! “God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10). The greatest use of any gift is to bring glory to God so that others will want to know Him. Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Here are some possible talents He might have given you: * Exhortation * Giving * Leadership * Mercy * Prophecy * Service * Teaching * Your gifts could also be in the form of art, music, communication, education, or connections.

Do you need help figuring out how to use your gift? First of all, ask God because He wants to help you. But secondly, we want to help you too! Respond to this e-mail and ask for guidance from an Online Missionary on how to use your gifts. The goal is that, at the end of days, Jesus would say to you: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” The world is waiting for you to give your gifts—don’t bury them!

So, this week, let’s pray that:

• We would know how God has gifted us individually
• We would have courage to step out and use our gifts
• Global Media Outreach would use our gifts to benefit the world

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

The Greatest Gift You Can Give God

“You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (Psalm 51:16,17

So: God has saved you from Hell, freed you from judgment for all your sins, given His wonderful Spirit to live inside of you, and is preparing a place for you in Heaven. This probably makes you want to say “Thank you!” However…

What do you get for the person who has everything? If you’ve ever tried to find a gift for someone who already has it all, you know how hard it can be. Now what about for God? He said, “For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10). All the cattle on a thousand hills—that’s hard to beat!

But this reminds me of when I was a little girl.There was nothing of any material value I could give my dad to show my love; I didn’t have any money! So I gave what I could: cards telling him how much I love him; pictures I painted for him; “coupons” to spend time with me; and kindness to my brother. These things meant more to him than anything I could ever buy. In fact, to this day, he still has some of the things I made him, and when asked what he wants for his birthday, he says, “Peace at home.”

God is the same way. King David said to God, “You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (Psalm 51:16,17). What He really wants is heartfelt love from you and care for others. Just like my handmade cards and pictures, here are gifts that God loves: 

• Tell Him how much You Love and Appreciate Him: God said, “But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me” (Psalm 50:23). That’s what I was doing when I drew my dad little cards expressing my love. 
• Spend Time with Him: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). God wants to spend time with you just like my dad loves to spend time with me!
• Do What He Asks: Jesus said, “If you love Me, obey My commandments” (John 14:15). Would you believe your friend loved you if you always did things that he hated?
• Care for Others: Jesus said, “The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me'” (Matthew 25:40). When you do something kind for someone else, it’s like you’re doing it for Jesus.
• Live in Peace with Others: “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose” (Philippians 2:2). Just like my dad wants peace at home, God wants peace amongst His children. Show Him your love by being kind and forgiving towards others.

These are just a few ways to show God how much you love and appreciate Him What’s your way? Just like my dad loved my little pictures and gifts, God loves the unique way you show Him your love. Let us know how you show your love to God!

So, this week, let’s pray that:

• We would truly realize how much God has done for us
• We would show Him our love for Him and bring Him happiness
• Global Media Outreach would be full of gratitude for what God has done for us

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

Find Where You Belong

“And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are His heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you” (Galatians 3:29)

Now that you believe in Jesus, where do you belong? Think about the difference between a sports fan and an actual player on the team. The fan gets to cheer from the sidelines, but a player gets to experience the game. He trains with the team, gets deep camaraderie, and feels the amazing joy of winning. When the first believers put their faith in Jesus, they formed an incredible community, much like a team: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

God has a place for you to belong on the team. He wants you to experience the fulfillment of deep friendship with other believers, the training from spiritual coaches, and the joy of winning as a team. I remember how intensely my life changed when I became a part of a church: I went from being a casual believer on the sidelines to being a full participant in the game, and my joy level went from 0 to 100. Now I want the same for you!

Here are some ways that you can belong and experience the amazing joy of being on a team:

Join a Church:Meeting with a local group of believers will give you the amazing benefits of a spiritual family. “I found a home away from home through the church” (Dena)

Join a Bible Study: Study the Bible, ask questions, and pray together in an online small group. “I have actually gained a more intimate relationship with God” (Joe)

Join our Chapel:Join with other believers anytime to worship and learn about Jesus. Inspiring worship music, great preaching, and live prayer. “I love God Life family chapel” (Odame)

Join our Facebook Community: Hear from other believers like yourself! Share testimonies, pray for each other, and get our latest content. “FB Godlife is great for us Christians. I strongly recommend it for all” (Bello)

Hopefully these opportunities are helpful to you!You can try them all if you want! Let us know how we can pray for you by responding to this e-mail.

So this week, let’s pray together that:

• We would find other Christians to join together with
• We would help newer believers grow in their faith in God
• www.GodLife.com will be a safe, healthy place for Christians to grow in their faith

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

Take Up Your Mat and Walk

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:11-12)

Have you ever had a friend say sorry to you over and over, even after you’ve already forgiven them? It’s insulting. In repeatedly apologizing, they’re saying, “I’m not sure if you’ve really forgiven me; I still feel guilty.” In essence, they’re doubting your word.

Imagine how much more insulting it is to God! Psalm 103:12 says, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Just think how far the east is from the west. It’s basically infinity—the two can never meet. So, imagine for a moment, you and your sins bound together. Then God comes and separates the two of you, sending your sin traveling to the west and you to the east. But maybe you haven’t truly let go of your guilt.

Look what Jesus did: “Some people brought to Him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘Be encouraged, My child! Your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, ‘That’s blasphemy! Does He think He’s God?’ Jesus knew what they were thinking, so He asked them, ‘Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ And the man jumped up and went home!” (Matthew 9:2-7).

Now, say the newly-healed man went home with his mat and laid on it, continuing to live like he was still paralyzed. That’s what you might be doing with your sins! Jesus has said to you, “My child, be encouraged! Your sins are forgiven! Now get up and experience life in freedom!” But you can’t fully believe it, so you lay back down on your mat of paralysis and depression, missing out on what God has for you. I have been like that. But God is making this verse real to me: “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36).

And He wants to make it real for you. Ask Him right now to help you truly know that your sins are forgiven. Ask Him to help you take up your mat and walk in the fulfilling life He has for you. There is so much He has planned for you to do! Today is the day for you to take up your mat and walk.

So, this week, let’s pray that:

• We would experience true separation from our past
• We would take up our mat and walk in God’s great will
• Global Media Outreach begin to run with the vision God has given us

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

What Beats Cause and Effect?

“But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8)

They say “What comes around goes around.” That describes the law of Cause and Effect. The Bible says it another way: “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). What have you been sowing? Peace, love, and kindness—all of the time? If so, you’re in luck. But if not, what fate awaits you? This is a tricky one, for the biblical principle of sowing and reaping still stands. However, there is a higher law.

Forgiveness trumps Cause and Effect—every time. When Jesus was hanging on the cross—mid-crucifixion—He said to God on your behalf, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34). Can you believe it? It’s hard enough for me to forgive someone after they’ve hurt me, let alone while they are doing it. But in the middle of crucifixion, being tortured and killed as the Son of God for coming to save His own people, Jesus stands in the gap and tells God: I’m asking you not to hold it against them; they don’t know what they’re doing.

If you’re banking on your deeds to save you or condemn you, think again: The fact is, you have not done more good than bad: quite the opposite. And if you’re hoping your good deeds are going to set you up for a good afterlife, guess again. Concerning Cause and Effect, we all deserve Hell. That is the proper application of “What comes around goes around.” But there’s a higher law—Jesus’ law of love and forgiveness. The Bible says, “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). When He died for you, His sacrifice stretched over your sins and covered them completely, like a thick blanket.

Jesus completely absorbed your punishment. In doing so He wasn’t saying, “Oh, no more sowing and reaping; that rule is getting tossed out.” Instead, He said, “I’m going to take their punishment. They’re going to get the positive consequences for my perfect actions (Heaven) and I’m going to take the dreadful consequences for their actions (crucifixion).” He took your Cause and Effect and gave you His instead.

Now, who do you need to forgive? Jesus said it plainly, “But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins” (Mark 11:26). By holding on to a grudge, you’re disqualifying yourself from Jesus’ forgiveness. Instead of holding a grudge, let someone have the grace Jesus gave you. Say, “Father forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing, just as I don’t. Thank you so much for forgiving me.”

Forgiveness is the greatest need in the world. Today, receive God’s gift of forgiveness to you and give it to someone else.

So this week, let’s pray together that:

• We would truly understand how forgiven we are
• We would truly forgive others from the heart
• Global Media Outreach would help many others experience Jesus’ forgiveness

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

What's your Worst-case Scenario?

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7).

Today I want you to think about the worst thing that could happen in your life. Is it sickness? Bankruptcy? Loneliness? Normally I like to talk about nice things, but I want to share with you how God has been helping me with my worry. You see, I worry a lot. And most of my worries never come true.

But say the worst of the worst happened, whatever that is for you. There are a few things you can know will never be affected, no matter what goes wrong:

• God will still be glorified: “’As surely as I live,' says the LORD, ‘every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God'" (Romans 14:11)
• God will never leave you: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)
• Jesus will never stop loving you: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39)

So I’d like you to do this exercise with me. Fill in the blank with your worst worry and say out loud: “If God wants to glorify Himself through _______________, then so be it. He will never leave me, abandon me, or take His love away from me. And I will arrive at the End of Days with Jesus in Heaven.”

Because that is the ultimate worst-case scenario: that you would arrive at the Day of Judgment and not be admitted into Heaven. But Jesus has promised you: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me” (John 10:27,28).

What are you worrying about today? Give it to God. This is how I do it: I imagine my worry as a ball that I throw to God for Him to deal with. I Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Sometimes I have to throw my worry ball to Him just once; sometimes once an hour. But He always gives me His peace in exchange. And He will do the same for you.

So let’s pray together this week that:

• We would completely give all our worries over to God and receive His peace
• We would rest in the knowledge that He will ultimately be glorified
• Global Media Outreach would completely give God all our worries

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

God Wants to Renew His Vows

“’For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’ says the LORD, who has mercy on you” (Isaiah 54:10).

Have you ever seen a married couple renew their vows? It’s so beautiful. After years of hardships, things not going the way they thought, and weird traits they didn’t know about, they still say: I’d do it all over again. I’d marry you a million times over.

That’s what God says to you today. He knows all the sins you’ve committed—and all the ones you’re going to commit. He knows all the things you didn’t do just how He wanted and how you will resent and misunderstand Him at times. And He still says to you: I love you today like I did yesterday. And I’d die for you all over again. I don’t regret it one bit. “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love; with unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself” (Jeremiah 31:3).

I was the person Jesus was talking to when He said, “You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see” (Revelation 3:17,18).

And now He wants to hear it from you. Think how much a person wants to hear “I love you too” when they confess their own love. Would you tell Him that you would do it all over again—even though things haven’t gone the way you planned, and maybe He hasn’t answered your every prayer just how you wanted? Maybe even God is different than you imagined Him…would you still commit your whole life to Him again today? In fact, will you do it today?

Renew your Vows with God today. Maybe circumstances have caused you to drift from God. It’s not to late to return. He says, “Return to Me, and I will return to you” (Malachi 3:7). No matter what has happened in your past, God has a wonderful plan for your future. Right after He said, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love; with unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself”, He said, “I will rebuild you, My virgin Israel. You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines” (Jeremiah 31:4).

God wants to rebuild you and your relationship with Him. He renews His vows with you today and is waiting for you to do the same. He longs to hear from you, “God, I’d do it all over again. I love you today and I will never take back my commitment to you.”

So this week, let us pray that:

• We would understand and feel God’s great love for us
• We would get a fresh love and passion for God
• Global Media Outreach would hear what God wants us to do

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

If your House was Robbed Today...

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is the gift of God, not by works, that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9)

I want you to imagine that your house is being robbed, but you put your most valuable asset in a safe. What is that asset? It might be expensive jewelry, family photos, or the deed to your land. You can rest assured that even if you are robbed, your most valuable asset will stay safe.

Think about it spiritually now. What is your most valuable spiritual asset? For a while, I had everything backwards. I thought my prayer life, Bible reading, and church attendance gave me my value as a Christian. But I thought very little about Jesus’ sacrifice for me and how He gave me righteousness I could never get otherwise. It was as if I was appraising my home and put high value on all of the insignificant items like vases and pictures and minimal value on the important things like the walls and foundation.

I was the person Jesus was talking to when He said, “You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see” (Revelation 3:17,18).

Jesus’ righteousness is the most valuable item I have. And it’s the most valuable item you have. He paid for it with His life and gave it to you free of charge. And God has locked it in your spiritual safe; He will never take it away. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me” (John 10:28). Your Bible knowledge, service at church, or your good deeds can fade away; but no one can take Jesus’ righteousness from you. And it is the only thing you need. It will carry you through this life and into Heaven.

Paul said, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (I Corinthians 1:31). Do this with me right now: Close your eyes and imagine a bar of gold (representing Jesus’ righteousness) locked in your safe. Pray aloud, “Thank you Jesus that all I have is Your righteousness, and no one can take it from me.”

So this week, let us pray that:

• We would know the value of Christ’ sacrifice for us
• We would put our confidence in the fact Jesus will never abandon us
• Global Media Outreach would put Jesus at the top so everyone can glorify Him

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

Your Friends at GodLife.com

How Qualified are You?

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

Have you ever been to a job interview where they ask you, “What qualifies you for this position?” You might go on and on about what makes you the best employee they could ever have, desperately hoping for the position.

However, we often do the opposite with God. He comes to you and says, “I have a great plan for your life. I want you to reach many people with My love and display My glory.” And you say, “Not me, God. I can’t do that. I have too much sin, too many weaknesses. You have the wrong person. Pick him over there…he never makes the mistakes I do.”

You’re not alone. Moses did the same thing. God gave him the awesome privilege of delivering His people from slavery. But Moses pleaded with the Lord, "O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled" (Exodus 4:10). But it wasn’t like God didn’t know about Moses’ inadequacies. He knew exactly who He was dealing with—and He chose him anyway.

And God has chosen you anyway. He knows your weakness, that sin that always trips you up, every sin you’ve committed so far, and every reason why you shouldn’t get the job. If it were really a matter of qualifications, you’re right: you’re not qualified! But God looks past all of those things and says, “I’ve called you anyways. I love you. I know your weaknesses and I’m going to help you overcome them. I’m not giving up on you. And I have great things for you to do.”

That’s God’s beauty. He chooses the foolish things to confuse the smart, and the humble things to bring down the proud. What is a foolish thing in your life? Your past? Lack of education? Fear of people? God can turn it into a strength. Think about it—what story shows the greatness of a coach more: a strong, talented kid who the coach helped to make a great player? Or a short, fumbling kid who the coach turned into a star? You may feel like the runt of the team, but God plans to turn you into a success story in His kingdom.

What has He called you to?You’re not disqualified for the job just because of your past failings or current weaknesses. God says to you today, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God made fearful Moses into a national deliverer. And He can make you into whatever He wants.

So this week, let us pray that:

• We would have confidence in God’s plan
• We would stop listening to the lies of condemnation
• Global Media Outreach will fulfill the great plan God has us

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

Your Friends at GodLife.com

Action: Ask God about His plan for your life. Trust that He can use you greatly, no matter your current circumstances. Share with us what you feel God has called you to at our GodLife Facebook page!

Why are You a Christian?

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

If someone asked you, “Are you a Christian?”, what would you say? Probably “Yes.” But what if they asked, “Why?”

That’s where a lot of us have problems. I could be stumped if someone asked me that and tempted to say something like, “Well, my parents raised me as a Christian” or even, “Because I believe in God.” But lots of people believe in God, and what if my parents had raised me wrong? No, that is not the reason I am a Christian. When it really comes down to it, what would I say? What would you say?

The True Definition of a Christian. The reason you are a Christian is not because you do good things like go to church or read the Bible. It is not because you were raised in a “Christian” home or nation. It’s not even because you believe in the concept of God. It is because you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the King that will reign for eternity. Your faith in Jesus is what makes you a Christian—pure and simple.

The Proof. Look at this contrast of two men as proof. Jesus was hanging on the cross between two criminals. Can you picture them? Neither of these men were “good” people, but they had very different attitudes toward Jesus. The one made fun of Jesus, saying, “Aren’t you supposed to be the Messiah? Prove it!” But the other one was deeply humble and replied, “We deserve to die; this man doesn’t.” Then he turned and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). That’s the clincher: He truly believed that Jesus was the Son of God. And Jesus’ response is the proof that salvation is by faith alone: “I assure you today, you will be with Me in paradise’" (Luke 23:43).

Let It Sink In. Your salvation—eternal life when you die and the complete forgiveness of your sins—is not a matter of good deeds, family heritage, or general belief in God. It is founded on your belief that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He will come back to bring you into His great kingdom. Let this simple fact be the answer to those who ask you why you are a Christian and give you great peace.

Apply It: Explain to someone this week the true definition of a Christian.

So this week, let us pray that:

• We would understand the true definition of a Christian
• We would be able to share it with someone else
• Global Media Outreach would look to Jesus for its direction and example

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

The One Cure for Loneliness

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls'" (Matthew 11:28,29).

You ever feel lonely? I do. It’s amazing how you can still be lonely even if you are surrounded by people. It proves that the hole is only filled from feeling truly understood and accepted: from being unconditionally loved. So often I—and maybe you—try to fill the gap with things that do not fill at all. It’s like pouring water in your car’s gas tank and expecting it to go. Maybe you’ve been trying to fill the gap with success or relationships. But you still can’t shake the loneliness.

Jesus wants to fill that gap. The Bible talks about the concept of “a friend that sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). The picture is of a friend who is committed to you through thick and thin. Imagine going through a really hard time where everyone leaves you, but your one friend stands by your side and says, “I love you. I’m committed to you ‘til the end, and I’m never going to leave.” That’s the kind of friendship Jesus offers you.

Jesus never leaves His friends. When people criticized his disciples, He stood up for them. When they did stupid things, He was patient with them. Even when they abandoned Him at His death, He came back to show them He was resurrected. But the greatest act of His friendship was taking on the worst death possible to save their lives. He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Did you know that you are one His friends if you believe in Him? Jesus is the one that is never going to leave you, criticize you, or misunderstand you—and He wants to be your best friend.

Just starting talking to Him today. Tell Him how you feel. Tell Him what you need help with. Ask Him your questions. If you call out to Him, He will answer you. His friendship is the gasoline that will truly fill your tank.

So this week, let us pray that:

• Jesus will become your best friend
• We will be good friends to others
• God will pour out His Spirit on all those coming to the Global Media Outreach sites

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you!

May God bless you.

What to Do When You're Doubting

When in Doubt… There are a million different endings to that phrase, but God’s message to you is When in Doubt, Don’t Fear. Joshua was a guy in the Old Testament who had just inherited the nation of Israel from Moses, and his task was to get about a million people to cross over the desert and into their promised land. Also, there were giant warriors in the land that he would have to defeat—and everybody was to afraid to go. Talk about a time when you would be kept up at night and want to turn back! But God’s message to Joshua over and over again is: “This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

When You Are Afraid The uncertainty of life can be very scary sometimes. Mortgages, family problems, health issues: they all cause us stress. In addition, normally the things God asks you to do are outside of the lines of what you think you can do. They are too big. But that gives Him a chance to show how He can do anything, despite all of your weaknesses. He didn’t tell Joshua, “Don’t be afraid, because I have made you a great leader.” Or, “Don’t be afraid, because the enemy is weak.” No, He said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). Basically, Don’t be afraid, because I have it under control.

So your mainstay is not your abilities, but God’s presence. What are you facing? Foreclosure? Divorce? Kids going astray? Job or relationship difficulties? If you just depend on yourself, stress is inevitable, because everyone deep down doesn’t believe they have what it takes. And you don’t! But with God, He can supply what you need. Paul said, “And I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Take a moment right now and release your doubt to God. Let it go like the tide of the ocean goes back into the sea. And in its place, take in the security that God is completely by your side. Remember, He promises: “Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). When in doubt, don’t fear.

So, this week, let us pray and ask God to

• Help us not to fear, but to trust Him with our lives
• Let us be a true example of Jesus to others
• Give Global Media Outreach creative ideas to reach more people

THANK YOU so much for your prayers.

May God bless you.

The old has gone, the new has come!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Have you ever seen someone with a radical transformation? You might see before-and-after photos of a person who has gone through a huge change. Or maybe you hadn’t seen a friend in a while and when you do, they have totally changed for the better. “What did you do?!” you ask. “Well let me tell you…” they reply.

That is the kind of testimony people are looking for about Jesus Christ. You can preach do’s and don’ts until you’re blue in the face, but until someone sees a truly changed life, they may not listen. But if they see your life radically changed by Jesus, they will definitely want to know what happened to you. And then you can tell them. Have you heard about Jesus? He has absolutely saved my life.

But sometimes we get scared and keep it to ourselves. How mean would it be if you ran into a friend with health issues and, just having figured out to solve your own, you refused to tell her the secret? But that’s what some of us do with Jesus. He is the one who has greatly changed our lives—and not ourselves—but we see others in need and don’t tell them the cure. Psalm 107:2 says, “Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies.” In the Proverbs, God gives us this warning: “Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, ‘Look, we didn’t know.’ For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve” (Proverbs 24:11,12).

What You Can Say? Just tell the truth. I once was this way, and now I am not. And the only change is that I accepted Jesus as my Savior and He has turned my life around. It’s the truth, and it’s not that hard to say. They will be so attracted to your changed life that they will consider your claims of Jesus. And if they are willing, you can tell them of this promise in the Bible: “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Romans 10:13). And you can lead them in the life change that you experienced.

Don’t be afraid to let people see your before-and-after photos. Your testimony is one of the greatest things you have. Don’t hide the before or the after. Ask God to help you use it for His glory.

So, this week, let us pray and ask God to

• Help us reach more people for Jesus Christ
• Give you and each of us more boldness to tell others about Christ
• Bless your friends and family

THANK YOU so much for your prayers! God loves you and He has a wonderful plan for your life.

May God bless you.

What sin won't Jesus forgive?

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

The Ultimate Stain-Remover Have you ever gotten a stain on your shirt that you thought would never come out? I’ll never be able to wear this again, you think. But then you use a stain remover, and it miraculously comes out. That is a small picture of the power of Jesus’ blood to cover your sins. Ephesians 1:7 says, “He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.” No matter what you have done, your life is not ruined if you let Jesus forgive you entirely.

Because that’s what He wants to do. The problem is many people do not believe this deep down. Maybe you think that there are things you have done that are just too bad for God to forgive. You come to God with a sin-stain on your shirt and say, “There’s just no way You can get this out.” But Jesus takes one look at that stain and it as if He says, “You have no idea how powerful My blood is.” He told us His guarantee in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Notice the words faithful and all. Faithful means He will forgive you every time you ask, and all means He will make you completely clean.

A Worst-Case Scenario Have you ever seen how on TV, stain-remover commercials show the worst-case scenarios? Paul was a worst-case scenario for God’s forgiveness. He went around helping to kill Christians—God’s own children. But God not only forgave Paul completely, He gave him one of the greatest callings on earth: telling the Gentiles about Jesus and launching the Christian Church. If you wonder if God can forgive you and still use you for His glory, Paul is proof. Paul later wrote of God’s incredible love and forgiveness, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

What stain do you have that you think Jesus can’t cover? Take it to Him today and ask Him to forgive you. He shed His blood so that He can cover your sin and make you completely clean.

So, this week, let us pray and

• Confess our sins to God and ask Him to forgive those sins in the name and power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
• Ask God to touch one person in our lives -- and give us boldness to tell them of the forgiveness they can receive in Jesus Christ!
• Ask God to protect our staff at Global Media Outreach and help us reach even more people for Jesus Christ

THANK YOU so much for your prayers for our ministry.

May God bless you.