Protecting Life - embryonic stem cells

Daily Devotional, May 19, 2011 "Protecting Life"

Protecting Life

read›
Jeremiah 1:1-8
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (v.5).

Russell Turnbull was riding a bus one night when
a fight broke out. He tried to intervene, but in the
process someone sprayed ammonia into his right
eye. The powerful liquid scarred his cornea, causing
him to lose sight and experience chronic pain. A doctor
was able to cut away a tiny portion of Turnbull’s other
cornea and use adult stem cells to grow a patch for the
damaged one. “The operation was a complete success,
and I now have my sight back,” says Turnbull.

The medical advances and miracles achieved
through using adult stem cells is remarkable. Sadly,
some scientists continue to push the unproductive use
of embryonic stem cells. Those cells can be obtained
only through the destruction of human embryos . . . the
destruction of life.

There are many verses in God’s Word that provide
insight into the moral and ethical ramifications of
destroying embryos: “God created human beings in His
own image” (Genesis 1:27); “You made all the delicate,
inner parts of my body and knit me together in my
mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13); “The Lord . . . formed
me in my mother’s womb” (Isaiah 49:5).

The prophet Jeremiah received this message from
God: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s
womb” (1:5). God Himself stated that embryos are His
precious, living handiwork. To destroy them goes against
God and His holy commands (Exodus 20:13).

As believers in Jesus, we should strongly oppose embryonic stem cell research.
Due to the successful use of adult stem cells, it’s unnecessary. And as we lift our
voices in opposition, we can take these words from God to heart: “Don’t be
afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you” (Jeremiah 1:8).
Let’s help protect human life—even in its tiniest forms. —Tom Felten

more›
In Ecclesiastes 11:5, Solomon states the extent
of God’s involvement in the creation of life and
all natural happenings. Meditate on how this
should affect our view of the unnatural destruction
of embryos.

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A Symbol of Forgiveness - Sheila Walsh

Daily Devotional, May 17, 2011 "A Symbol of Forgiveness - Sheila Walsh"

Episode 3 - A Symbol of Forgivenesswith Sheila Walsh

Watch Episode 3 Now. CLICK HERE.

On a Sunday morning in 2009, Pastor Fred Winters was brutally gunned down as he delivered a sermon in front of his church congregation. The story made national headlines not only for the story itself, but also for his wife Cindy's forgiveness of the man who pulled the trigger.

Sheila Walsh taped a webisode series with Cindy Winters and Emmy winning Life Focus Productions titled “A Symbol of Forgiveness” where the two of them talk through Cindy’s remarkable story. Part three of the four-part series is now available. The final episode will be posted May 24.

Watch Episode 3 Now. CLICK HERE.

Grace – For When I Have Failed

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

- 2 Corinthians 12:9

It is hard to believe that God loves each of us equally, without measure or merit, and that His grace shelters us regardless of what we do or leave undone. I think it’s so hard because there is no other relationship on earth like that. Every other relationship we have is affected, to some extent, by how we behave and what we say.

In a friendship, if we abuse that relationship in any way, there are consequences. We become more distant and formal. At times, if our behavior is inappropriate enough, it will cost us that friend. For the child who yells, screams, or refuses to listen to a parent, there’s a cause and effect. In marriage, a couple stands before God, family, and friends to vow love to one another until death parts them. Yet about half of all marriages end in divorce because of our behavior and choices.Every earthly relationship proves to us that love and acceptance is conditional, and we can mess it up at a moment’s notice.

That’s why being loved forever based on nothing but someone else’s ability to love unconditionally is hard to hold on to. Doesn’t each of us struggle to believe in such love, such grace? Don’t we each find that earthly love fails us, both intentionally and, as in death or tragic separations, unintentionally?

In the New Testament, a fresh wave of grace bursts upon us. In the Greek, the word for “grace” is translated charis, from which we get the word charity, also meaning “love,” “goodwill,” and “loving-kindness.” To participate in this grace, this unmerited favor, the only requirement is a relationship with Jesus Christ:

Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. (Romans 5:18–20)

Paul emphasizes this in talking to the Romans. The grace of God, he says, is free but never to be seen as a license to sin: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1–2). So, on one hand, we have this gift that we can never earn or pay back; and on the other, we are called into relationship, where the closer we get to God’s heart, the more like Him we become and the less we want to sin.

It sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Yet one thing is crystal clear: God is always the initiator of this love and mercy—of the kind of strength that fills in our weaknesses, the kind of perfection that covers our flaws, and the kind of shelter that says, “I’m going to keep you and love you through all your failings.” God is the one who pursues us, who woos us to this place of grace, to the shelter of His promises.

1. Do you, deep down, believe that God loves all of us equally; or do you think He actually likes people more when they have dedicated their lives to service and sacrifice?

2. How have you experienced God’s “unprecedented, outrageous, overwhelming” love?

This Bible study is an excerpt from chapter 1 of The Shelter of God’s Promisesby Sheila Walsh.

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Google & Grace

Daily Devotional, May 16, 2011 "Google & Grace"

Google & Grace

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Titus 2:11-14
We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and
devotion to God (v.12).

For the Internet that brings connection has appeared
to all men. It teaches us to say ‘Yes’ to YouTube and
Facebook, and to live me-controlled, self-indulgent
and quick-fix lives in this present age, while we wait for
the blessed ‘beep’—the glorious appearing of our friend
on MSN.”

When a friend created this quote, by replacing some
words in the NIV version of Titus 2:12-13, and shared
it with us, it made us laugh! Yet, after the laughter, we
were reminded of a sobering reality: That’s not the way
we ought to live. Rather, God’s Word states: “We are
instructed [by the grace of God] to turn from godless
living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil
world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to
God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful
day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ, will be revealed.”

As believers in Jesus, we’re to be people instructed
by God’s grace, not Google. Titus 2:12 teaches us that
God’s grace in Christ is the true basis of instruction and
motivation for the Christian life.

By God’s grace, Jesus took our punishment and died
for our sins. He died so that we could become the people
God wants us to become (v.14). The cross is a testimony
to the fact that God’s grace can change our hearts no
matter what we’ve done. It also reminds us that we’re
never good enough to not need it.

The grace of God calls us to turn from the wrong things in life to obedience
and the right stuff. It’s more than the basic definition of “unmerited favor.” For it’s
not only unmerited favor to have God’s life in us; we also experience unmerited
power to live God’s way for Him. —Poh Fang Chia

more›
Read 1 Corinthians
15:10 to see the effect
God’s grace had on the
apostle Paul’s life.

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Happy Hour

Daily Devotional, May 13, 2011 "Happy Hour"

Happy Hour

read›
Proverbs 23:29-35
When will I wake up so I can look for another drink? (v.35).

Paul Sneddon took the corner too fast. Crashing
through a wooden barrier, he flipped his Ford
Laser. When he realized there was no way out of
the wreck, he popped open a brew and drank it down
while waiting to be rescued. Later, he admitted that at the
time of the accident, he “had been drinking for 4 days
straight.”

The driver’s inebriated state caused the crash, and yet
he declared happy hour at the scene of the accident! The
situation reminded me of this proverb: “A fool repeats his
foolishness” (Proverbs 26:11).

So, how do we avoid the foolish behavior associated
with alcohol? Solomon issued this warning: “Don’t gaze
at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the
cup, how smoothly it goes down” (23:31). Drinking
may be enticing, but “in the end [alcohol] bites like a
poisonous snake” (v.32).

Because of its deceptive nature, we can get into trouble
with booze before we realize what’s happening. One sip
usually leads to several, which can lead to drunkenness.
The Bible cautions us, “Don’t be drunk with wine,
because that will ruin your life” (Ephesians 5:18).
When we open the door to drunkenness, we risk letting
it become a lifestyle. At first, getting smashed is rare;
then it’s a once-in-a-while thing. Then it can become so
frequent that every happy hour ends with hugging the commode. It’s possible to
become like the carouser in Proverbs who falls asleep wondering, “When will I
wake up so I can look for another drink?” (23:35).

Happy hour, hangover, sober, gotta find a drink—God doesn’t want us to
live in the bondage of this cycle. He’s given us sufficient warning, but we’ve got
to do our part and keep our distance from alcohol’s devastating effect.
—Jennifer Benson Schuldt

more›
Read 2 Peter 2:19-22 to
see why Christians should
avoid getting tangled up
in sin that enslaves.

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Gaining Strength

Daily Devotional, May 11, 2011 "Gaining Strength"

Gaining Strength

read›
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness (v.9).

After 20 years in youth ministry, my husband has
weathered his fair share of injuries on the job.
Most recently, he was involved in a competitive
outdoor game when he twisted his foot. Playing through
the pain, he conceded to his injury only after winning
the contest. He limped to a nearby place to sit down and
carefully remove his sock, only to see his ankle quickly
swelling past the size of an orange. A trip to the hospital
revealed it wasn’t broken, but he soon realized it would
take time before his foot could bear weight once again.

Pain often serves as a reminder of our limitations. To
those of us who pride ourselves on our independence
and feel most comfortable being in control, we don’t
relish the pain when it reminds us we’re vulnerable.
Instead of admitting our need, we “play through the
pain,” if not to convince ourselves then to assure others
that we can handle whatever comes our way. No one
likes to feel weak.

The whole crux of the gospel, however, rests on
our desperate need and the insufficiency of our own
resources. Pride keeps us from admitting our needs, much
less our failures. But until we’re willing to deal with those
things, we cut ourselves off from the fullness of the power
of Christ in our lives.

Strength for the believer looks far different than
what the world professes. “[Jesus] gave up His divine
privileges . . . and was born as a human being” (Philippians 2:7) in the greatest
show of power the heavens have ever witnessed (2 Corinthians 13:4). We gain
strength when we see difficulties—and our weaknesses—as a means for His
power to be at work in us (12:9-10).

It’s the difference between limping and running (Isaiah 40:29-31).
—Regina Franklin

more›
Read Isaiah 35 to
discover why we can
experience joy even as
we see and acknowledge
our own inadequacies.

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A Symbol of Forgiveness with Sheila Walsh

Daily Devotional, May 10, 2011 "A Symbol of Forgiveness - Sheila Walsh"

Episode 2 - A Symbol of Forgivenesswith Sheila Walsh

Watch Episode 2 Now. CLICK HERE.

On a Sunday morning in 2009, Pastor Fred Winters was brutally gunned down as he delivered a sermon in front of his church congregation. The story made national headlines not only for the story itself, but also for his wife Cindy's forgiveness of the man who pulled the trigger.

Sheila Walsh taped a webisode series with Cindy Winters and Emmy winning Life Focus Productions titled “A Symbol of Forgiveness” where the two of them talk through Cindy’s remarkable story. Part two of the four-part series is now available. The remaining two episodes will be posted May 17, and 24.

Watch Episode 2 Now. CLICK HERE.

Provision - For When You Don’t Have Enough

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:19

Haven’t you been there, that place of worry, fret, and fear when the provisions needed aren’t at hand and aren’t coming? Or maybe you’ve been in that place where there is a circus going on around you, with all kinds of things coming your way, just not what you really needed. You get lost in a pile of bills, feeling overwhelmed with everything that has to be taken care of and not enough resources to meet the needs. The demands of life can be overwhelming when you look at what you have and compare it to what you need. You can be left to wonder, Is God listening? Does He see? Will He fix things?

Where’s the hope of that promise in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs”? And how do you live in the assurance of that promise?

It sounds so easy, after all, when someone says, “Just believe in God’s promises.” Paul is writing this promise from house arrest in Rome to one of his favorite churches. The church in Philippi has sent a dear brother, Epaphroditus, to encourage Paul in his prison. Now Paul thanks them for their kindness and their monetary support in this time of need. His spirits have been lifted, and he responds with a sincere prayer for their blessing. This is a prayer from a love-filled heart that they be given what he holds dearest, the richest blessings found only in Christ.

Paul says in Philippians 4:18 that he is “amply supplied,” meaning “filled up” or “supplied to the point of overflowing.” This is what he is praying for them when he says “My God will meet all your needs.” There will be no lack in what is really needed. Note that Paul makes no mention of their desires. At the end of this statement he says “according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (v. 19). Some take this to mean reward in heaven, but it more likely means spiritual needs satisfied by the power that has been given to Jesus. “Riches” speaks of the abundance of Christ’s provision. “Glory” speaks of the fullness of His power. He is saying God is faithful and will not disappoint. His provision will be in keeping with the wealth of His mercy demonstrated in Jesus Christ. He takes care of His own.

The promise is that God knows our needs and has been proven to provide abundantly beyond what we can rightly expect. Our sign in earnest is the abundant grace of Christ’s gift—His life for us. How can we not trust in such a provision?

Read Mark 6; then answer the following questions:

1. Why did Jesus instruct His disciples not to pack supplies and provisions for their mission? Does this seem strange to you? How would you have responded in this situation?

2. When you take an honest assessment of your life today, what needs do you have? Do you fear God won’t provide in those areas?

3. Do you believe that when you rest in Jesus, truly anything is possible? What are the “impossible” things in your life today that you want God to make possible?

This Bible study is an excerpt from chapter 1 of The Shelter of God’s Promisesby Sheila Walsh.

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Bold, Faithful Friends

Daily Devotional, May 9, 2011 "Bold, Faithful Friends"

Bold, Faithful Friends

read›
Mark 2:1-12
They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the
crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then
they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus (v.4).

Jesus had returned to His base in Capernaum after a
preaching trip. When the locals heard that He was
back, they ran to where He was staying (probably
Peter’s house) and swarmed around it. So many people
crowded into the house that there was no way a paralyzed
man, brought to the door by his concerned friends,
could get in. But his friends would not be hindered! They
hatched a dangerous, unconventional plan.

They picked up their paralyzed friend, hauled him up
the side staircase to Peter’s roof, broke through the mud
seal, ripped up the straw thatching, and made a hole
large enough to lower the man through. They vandalized
Peter’s home! When Jesus saw their radical faith, He
gave them more than what they’d come for: He met the
man’s spiritual needs first and then healed him physically
(Mark 2:5,11-12).

Sometimes we simply can’t go any further in life or
deeper into faith on our own. Seasons come when we
need others to boldly carry us to Jesus.
“I remember when I wrote my book on prayer,” author
Richard Foster once told me during a radio interview.
“When I finished it, I didn’t want to pray. In fact, I didn’t
even like prayer!” He was burned out and spiritually
dry. Richard’s weekly prayer group soon came around
and he shared his predicament with them. He revealed
his prayerlessness to his four friends and waited for their
response. “We don’t think you should pray right now,” they told him, “so we will
become your prayer for you.” It wasn’t long before Richard was praying again
for himself.

Just like the paralytic man and like Richard Foster, we all need bold, faithful
friends. I thank God for those who carry me to Jesus and pray the prayer I can’t
pray myself. —Sheridan Voysey

more›
See Matthew 8:5-13,
Mark 5:21-43, and
Acts 9:36-42 for more
examples of people
whose faith affected the
lives of others.

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