Who is God? What does He do? Where did He come from? Why does He love us? Will I ever see Him? Questions like these can be found in book that God wrote, the Bible. If we want to know and understand God we have to read His book and get to know the author of this amazing gift. D.L. Moody observed, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.” God’s Holy Word is, indeed, a life-changing, one of a-kind treasure! Do you know that when we memorized God’s Word, we not only learn about Him but God will help us to do the right thing when we are faced with a wrong choice? He will help us to remember a verse from the Bible that tells us path to take. “Thy WORD have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11

Why not schedule a meeting with God every day. Each of us has been given 1,440 minutes in each day, if you purpose in your heart to spend a few of those minutes every day in the Word of God you will learn who He is and how important He is. God wants us to pay attention to Him. Are you spending quality time with the Creator?

Growing up we used to sing a simple song called, “The B-I-B-L-E”. The words go like this, “The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, The B-I-B-L-E!” Will you take a stand for Jesus today and read His Word. Start learning about Him and learn all you can as long as you live. His story never grows old and His teachings never fail.

Have you read in the Scripture about the man who had 6 eyes and still could not see?

Let’s look at Luke 12:16-19. Then He told them a story: " A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops. Then he said, I know I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself. My friend you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"

Where is God in this passage? Does He get any glory in this passage? No, because it is all about the rich man. He has the "I" syndrome! Isn’t that much like us? In our daily lives, in everything we do, who is getting the glory? Is it us or is it God? Our very existence is because of Him, so why do we think that it is all about us?

Gal. 2:20 says, " My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." In John 12:23 it talks about how a kernel of wheat must die to produce much fruit. We must die to ourselves and the "I" syndrome if we are going to produce much fruit.

What is our purpose? I Cor.10:31 says, " So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Many scriptures throughout the Bible point to this fact. We are here to bring glory to God. God does not get the glory due Him if it is "all about us."

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.
Isaiah 30:15

An Danish author tells the story of an old peasant who made an unusual request of his son as he lay dying. He asked his son to go into the best room of the house every day and sit there alone for half an hour. The son agreed to the strange request and promised his father he would do what he had been told.

After his father’s death, the son kept faithful to his promise. He did this unusual thing, spending a half an hour alone each day. At first the time of quiet and solitude was uncomfortable. He became restless and anxious for the time to end. But over the weeks, that half hour of solitude grew into a cherished and even transforming habit. The son looked forward to this brief quiet time each day and even began to thrive on it. He began to experience deep and calming changes within himself.

Are you willing to be alone for half an hour a day? Are you will to take an adventure of expectant faith, not looking for a predefined experience, not seeking an emotional high, but asking Jesus to come to you in His own way?

With your body relaxed and comfortable, and looking only to Jesus, your heart will be turned to Him in adoration. From this experience, you are likely to have a greater desire to obey Him. People who devote time to be alone with the Lord find a renewed reservoir of personal strength and quiet confidence.

The world desperately needs people who are trying out Jesus’ way of life and have an ever-deepening experience of Him. They are looking for peace and joy that lasts, and those qualities only show up in the lives believers who allow Jesus to reign in their hearts.

Spend some peaceful moments alone with the Lord today and watch the peace and joy in your heart grow and spill over into the lives of others.

Jacob said, “For what a relief it is to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the smile of God!”

Genesis 33:10 NLT

Do you need a little cheering up? If so, try cheering someone else up! Stop thinking about our own sadness or problems and set your mind on finding someone around you that needs some cheering up. When we cheer up others we will discover that is a wonderful way to cheer ourselves up, too!

The Word of God tells us that a cheerful heart is like medicine: it makes us feel better. So where does cheerfulness begin? It begins in the heart; it begins inside each of us and works its way out from there. It is a choice. We choose to be cheerful or we can choose to be sad.

When people are sad, for whatever reason, it’s up to us to speak a kind word or to offer a helping hand. Think of something that you can do to cheer someone up today…and then do it! You’ll make two people happy. An attitude of kindness starts in your heart and works its way out from there.

Let others see the smile of God through you today!

Here are verses of encouragement I thought might be appropriate to share on the "blog" for this week:

            "Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing;

            now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness, and

            rivers in the desert."    Isaiah  43:18,19

We all are experiencing change at Children’s Bible Ministries. So this  is the prefect verse to reflect on.  Our God is the God of now. His presence is with us now. If we continue to  put Him first in our thoughts right now, He will make a way for us no matter what circumstance we are facing.

May the assurance that we know, love and serve a risen Savior cause you to rejoice in knowing that:

-our mission is important,

-our message is true,

-our faith is real,

-our salvation is accomplished,

-and our hope is sure.

                  "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow;

                   Because He lives, all fear is gone.

                   Because I know He holds the future

                   And life is worth the living, just because He lives!"

Read a story the other day that has a good lesson about love.

The orange kitten was hungry. The grizzly bear was lonely. The man was apprehensive.

The kitten only weighed 10 oz. when he slid under the fence into the bear’s den. The man was in a panic thinking that the bear would eat the little kitten-carnivorous bears make larger animals a part of their diet.

The grizzly bear was named Griz and had come from a wildlife center when he was just a cub. He had been hit by a train while foraging on railroad tracks and suffered severe head injuries and was deemed unfit to return to the wild.

The kitten was one of four kitten abandoned at the center. They had found homes for three of the kittens, but Cat, as he was called, wasn’t adopted.

Then one day Cat turned up in Griz’s pen. Afraid to do anything to alarm the bear, the man watched expecting the worst. As the bear was eating his midday meal, something unbelievable happened. The bear very gently picked up a chicken wing with his forepaw and dropped it near Cat.

From that moment on, the two became inseparable. You would see Cat riding Griz’s back and Griz licking and nuzzling Cat. Their friendly relationship defies both the patterns of nature as well as their own troubled life histories. Griz never took advantage of Cat’s weakness and each animal has accommodated the others, needs.

What a lesson! We can help each other break free from the patterns of our past that keep us from loving each other. As we pray for and care for others with the love of Christ, we obtain healing by the grace of God, both for them and ourselves.

Did you ever wander what Daniel felt like when he was thrown into
the den of lions? Do you think he was afraid of those lions? Would
you be afraid if someone lowered you into a den of lions and closed
the entrance? You bet ya! I would have been terrified but Dan wasn’t
afraid. He knew that God would take care of him no matter what. I can
just imagine Daniel talking to the lions and petting them like big old
pussy cats! He probably used one as a big fluffy pillow that night.

In the morning when the king called to Daniel he replied, “My God hath

sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt
me:” Daniel 6:22.

Fears can be like an overpowering lion in our life if we let them. All of
us have fears. Some fears are big, small, real or imagined. Fear is both
physical and emotional and can rob us of joy. We need to dare to be
like Daniel and face our fears believing that God will help you. The next
time you are afraid read Mark 5:36, “Don’t be afraid: just believe.”

I don’t like traffic. It makes me nervous, all those cars and trucks racing down the highway trying to get to their destination. So how do I deal with the craziness and stress?  I have learned to engage my mind in something totally unrelated to work, home or the traffic. This is my time to have time with God. That might seem odd.  But it is time I can talk to him, and listen. By concentrating on Him, I can relax and not get my feelings caught up in the rush.

So the next time your sitting in traffic or driving in the rat race, relax and connect with God. Your trip will go faster and smoother. 

• This can to us from Mark Redka at Children’s Bible Ministries SWPA. Here is some of the life stories that they hear from the Released Time kids.

• ”My dad’s in jail. He went to pick up a package for my aunt, and didn’t know there were shotguns in them. They found cocaine too” New 3rd grader.
• I pray to Jesus every night because my parents fight all the time. I think they are getting a divorce.” 2nd grader.

• “That talkative boy’s mom died. I don’t think his dad pays him much attention.”

• A tenth grade girl recently told me that she is pregnant. She has been in foster care for 11 years.

What do all of these kids have in common, other than attending Released Time classes?  They all need to be loved. God has placed them within our care to show HIS love to them. Our challenge is to introduce them to the One Who can give them love for eternity.  Believe me it’s not an easy task.  Satan daily bombards these kids with his message of living for today and he temporarily fills their void with pleasures of this world. It can be discouraging.

There are glimmers of hope. I had been sick one week and a high school boy told me that he was praying for me. Another high school student thanked me for teaching their Bible class.  Former students, now adults, often stop me to say hello. I can’t wait until heaven to see the fruit of our labors.

The one thing that I would love is for all of these kids to come to camp. That’s one place where we have a great opportunity to show God’s love. One girl in my class came last summer. She said that camp was way better than being at home. She is living with a relative since her mom doesn’t want her. We are grateful for all of you who enable us to share God’s love with those who so desperately need it. Visit cbmswpa.com for more information.