“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. ‘But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' ‘In tithes and offerings.’” – Malachi 3:8

Albert Lexie began shining shoes at the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital in 1981. For the past 32 years, he has charged $5 a shine. When a customer gives him a tip, he gives it to the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund, which helps out parents of sick children who can’t afford to pay. In those 32 years, he has donated $200,000 to the fund.

"He does it because he loves the kids," said Dr. Joseph Carcillo. "He's donated over a third of his lifetime salary."

That represents a lot of shiny shoes, many grateful parents and an untold number of healing kids.

"He's a philanthropist is what he is," Dr. Carcillo added.

When asked why he does it, Albert said: “I just like to do what I do for the kids. Kids are special to me, and I want these kids to get better.”

The Lord us to be cheerful givers. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you wisdom and joy in your giving.

“As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled.” – Victor Hugo

God’s Word: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.” – Zechariah 7:11-12

Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity. He received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. He immigrated to the United States in 1933 and became a professor at Princeton University. He was known for his doggedness to find a solution to a problem.

One day Einstein and an assistant found themselves searching for a paper clip with which to bind a newly-finished physics paper. Though they soon found one, it proved too badly misshapen to be used. While searching for a tool which could be used to straighten it they came across... a large box of paper clips.

Incredibly, Einstein opened the box, removed a new clip and stubbornly began to shape it into such a tool (to straighten the bent clip). His assistant, considerably puzzled, asked him why he was bothering to do this. "Once I am set on a goal," Einstein replied, "it becomes difficult to deflect me."

Are you stubborn to the point of being foolish? Today in prayer, confess any stubbornness in your heart to the Lord and seek to follow Jesus in all that you do.

“I always believed in God and Christ, but I was in rebellion - trying to make my relationship with God fit into my life instead of making my life fit in with him. I was stubborn.” – Scott Stapp

God’s Word: “But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.” – Jeremiah 7:24

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’” – Zechariah 7:9

"In 1958, 35 year old Englishwoman Anita Goulden went on holiday to Peru to visit her brother. Anita was a widowed, single mother who owned two haberdasheries in Manchester, England. She was about to go home by way of the United States when she saw an unbelievable sight--children with tuberculosis and meningitis lying neglected and abandoned in the street in pools of their own blood. "In my wildest dream, I had never thought of human beings in such shocking conditions," her diary recorded. "The appalling poverty; the indifference of those around. I can only liken it to visiting a store and finding all the goods priced wrongly. Precious goods worthless. Worthless goods precious." So Anita stayed to help--for the next 44 years she stayed, only returning home one time before her death in 2002, and that trip was to buy medicine. Anita started traveling by donkey to the nearby villages surrounding Piura, Peru to find more unwanted children. Her first stop in these towns was always the pigsty, the common place for leaving physically and mentally handicapped babies with the excuse that they were of no use to their families and sent as a curse from God. "Anita's unwavering faith in God's capacity to answer her desperate prayers for food, clothing or housing when there was none left for the children, has succeeded in providing permanent care for the most sorely afflicted and has established a good education for 250 of the poorest children from the shanties," states the Anita Goulden Trust newsletter. Anita's Peruvian assistant said of her, "She has a direct line to God," and "Thank God for the British." Anita herself merely said, "Thank God there is a God."

The Lord puts us in situations every day where we are to be compassionate to others and to demonstrate the love of God. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can be more compassionate to others.

“Do you wish to receive mercy? Show mercy to your neighbor?” – John Chrysostom

God’s Word: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” – Matthew 23:23

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.’” – Zechariah 4:6

In May 2011, Amy Jacobs was riding her horse Sheik at Salmon Farm, a sprawling 900-acre horse-boarding farm in Kentucky. An hour and a half into their journey, something went terribly wrong.

“We came to an area along Floyd's Fork Creek,” Amy recalled. “As we were walking, all of a sudden I was noticing something under his feet was moving and I thought, ‘This is not normal.’ We were walking on a panel gate that had fallen across the path.”

Sheik got one of his hooves caught. The horse fell over and went down pinning Amy’s left leg under him.  As the 1200-pound horse struggled to get back on his feet, Amy was in danger of being completely crushed to death.

“I can remember saying a very short prayer,” she said. “I didn't say it out loud, but I thought to myself, ‘God, it's all up to You now.’ I was in the woods by myself where no one knew where I was, where I couldn't yell to someone to help me, so it was just Sheik and me. I knew God had to help us.”

Although Amy was stranded in the woods, she saw that her cell phone still had a signal, and immediately called for help.

After four calls, she was able to Jamie Sparks, the resident horse trainer at Salmon Farms.

Amy remembers, “She [Jamie] came around behind me and put her arms under my arm, [and] raked me out from under the horse right as he tried to stand up again. The feeling came back into my leg. It had been numb for about 30 minutes.”

“God definitely saved me and Sheik that day,” Amy shares. “Neither one of us limped, neither one of us went to the doctor, neither one of us had any lasting problems.”

“God gave me peace, and God made sure that Sheik didn't panic. God can make a donkey talk. God can make a saddle bred lay still for a few minutes! It shows how much God loves me. He answers prayer, and I'm glad He answered that one that day.”

The Spirit of our Lord is living and active in our world. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord for His Holy Spirit and seek to follow Christ in all that you do.

“There is no better evangelist in the world than the Holy Spirit.” – Dwight L. Moody

God’s Word: “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 1:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS 

“You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” – Haggai 1:6

On Easter Weekend 2004, Sharon Tirabassi won $10 million in the Powerball lottery. Tirabassi, a 26 year old single mother, was recently off welfare and newly employed as a personal care provider, when she struck it rich. Today, nine years after winning the lottery, she is back in the working class: riding the bus, working part-time, living in a rented house. Almost all of her winnings have been lost. She spent the money on "big house, fancy cars, designer clothes, lavish parties exotic trips, handouts to family, and loans to friends." What remains of her windfall is in trust for her six children; the money will become available when they turn 26. "The moment I got it, I divided it among my family," Tirabassi said: $1 million to her parents, and $1.75 million among her four siblings. She was generous with others, too, buying houses and renting them out at low rates, paying people's rent, offering loans for bail and business ventures. "All of that other stuff was fun in the beginning, now it's like ... back to life."

The Lord wants us to be a good steward of all that He has entrusted to us. Today in prayer, seek the Lord in His Word and develop the discipline and wisdom the Lord wants you to have in being a good steward.

“All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors.” – John Calvin

God’s Word: “When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.” – Haggai 2:16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“Her prophets are arrogant; they are treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.” – Zephaniah 3:4

The llama is a domesticated South American animal that is widely used for its meat and as a pack animal.  Similar to goats and camels, they treat each other with bouts of spitting, kicking and neck wrestling. This picking of fights establishes their social rank in the herd. 

In South America, the llama serves as a cultural metaphor for pride. To keep a herd of llamas corralled, you don’t even need a fence. All you need is one rope circling around the herd to keep them enclosed. Just by placing it at a height beneath the head and base of the neck, the llamas are secured in this makeshift pen. Rather than stooping beneath the rope, the llamas stand tall, but remain captive. They either refuse or are physically incapable of bending their necks, and thus are seen as a symbol of arrogance.

Arrogance is a sin. Today in prayer, confess any arrogance in your life and seek to walk humbly with Jesus.

“The first barrier to meekness arises whenever we claim as our own what is really a gift of God. To live in meekness, we must try to remember that all we are, have, and can do is a gift. It is an act of arrogance to place ourselves at the center of being and doing. Only God belongs there.” – Susan Annette Muto

God’s Word: “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.– Proverbs 8:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.” – Zephaniah 2:3

Arguably the most famous news correspondent of all time was Walter Cronkite. He was best remembered as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years. During that period, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" by opinion polls. He reported many events from 1937 to 1981, including bombings in World War II; the Nuremberg trials; combat in the Vietnam War; Watergate; the Iran Hostage Crisis; and the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

He was one of the most recognizable men in the world.

Walter remembered an incident which humbled him. He was sailing back down the Mystic River in Connecticut and following the channel's tricky turns through an expanse of shallow water. A boatload of young people sped past him, its occupants shouting and waving their arms.

"I waved back a cheery greeting and my wife said, 'Do you know what they were shouting?'

'Why, it was 'Hello, Walter,' he replied.

"No," she said. "They were shouting, "Low water, Low water."

Walter had to swallow his pride and he carefully maneuvered his boat.

Are you humble person, or do you wrestle with pride? Today in prayer, seek the Lord with all of your heart and seek to be humble in all that you do.

“He who knows himself best esteems himself least.” – H.G. Brown

God’s Word: “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” – 1 Peter 5:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” – Habakkuk 3:19

William Carey, who is called the father of modern Christian missions, began his missionary career to India in 1793. He served the Lord in that country for 40 years, never once returning to his home in England. And throughout those years he translated portions of the Bible into over a dozen Indian languages.

But one afternoon, after 20 years of hard labor, a fire raged throughout his printing plant and warehouse. All of his printing equipment was destroyed and most of his precious manuscripts. Tragically, 20 years of non-stop labor was gone within a few hours.

Many people would have been devastated over the loss, but not William Carey. This is what he wrote to his pastor friend, Andrew Murray, in England:

"The ground must be labored over again, but we are not discouraged. We have all been supported under the affliction, and preserved from discouragement. To me the consideration of the divine sovereignty and wisdom has been very supporting." Then he quoted from Psalm 46:10, where the Lord Himself says, "Be still and know that I am God."

William Carey found peace and strength in God's sovereign plan for his own life, even if it included times of devastating loss.

We cannot rely on our own strength; it will fail us. Today in prayer, pray that the Lord will be your strength in all that you do.

“We can never obey God in our own strength, but we can always trust Him to provide the strength we need. If we trust ourselves, we will faint and fall; but if we wait on the Lord by faith, we will receive strength for the journey.” – Warren Wiersbe

God’s Word: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” – Habakkuk 3:2

In February 1908, Canadian missionary Jonathan Goforth arrived in Manchuria. Though he was able to preach, Pastor Goforth admitted: "I did not know how to conduct a Revival. I could deliver an address and let the people pray, but that was all."

Pastor Goforth held a series of special meetings at Shenyang, with some initial opposition from church leaders.

After Goforth's address the first morning an elder stood up before all the people and confessed to having embezzled church funds. The effect on the hearers was "instantaneous". One person gave a "piercing cry" then many, now in tears, began spontaneous prayer and confession. For three days these incidents continued.

Pastor Goforth recorded, "On the fourth morning an unusually large congregation had assembled. The people seemed tense, expectant. Just then the hymn ended, and I rose to speak. All through that address I was acutely conscious of the presence of God. Concluding, I said to the people: "You may pray."

The results during of the "Manchurian Revival of 1908" were an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the congregation. More than 150 people were baptized and thousands gave their lives to the Lord as He renewed their hearts.

The Lord desires us to be excited about Him and to turn our hearts toward Him! Today in prayer, praise the Lord for your new life in Jesus. Ask the Lord to renew that desire to love and follow Him.

“We've lost sight of the fact that some things are always right and some things are always wrong. We've lost our reference point. We don't have any moral philosophy to undergird our way of life in this country, and our way of life is in serious jeopardy and serious danger unless something happens. And that something must be a spiritual revival.” – Billy Graham

God’s Word: “Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” – Psalm 80:7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous will live by his faith” – Habakkuk 2:4

John Charles (J.C.) Ryle was the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool, England during the latter half of the nineteenth century. He was a strong supporter of the evangelical school and a critic of Ritualism.

Ryle wrote commentaries on the Gospels which are still widely studied today. He wrote the following regarding righteousness and living by faith in Christ:

"It costs something to be a true Christian. Let that never be forgotten. To be a mere nominal Christian, and go to church, is cheap and easy work. But to hear Christ's voice, and follow Christ, and believe in Christ, and confess Christ, requires much self-denial. It will cost us our sins, and our self-righteousness, and our ease, and our worldliness. All - all must be given up. We must fight an enemy, who comes against us with twenty thousand followers. We must build a tower in troublesome times. Our Lord Jesus Christ would have us thoroughly understand this. He bids us 'count the cost.'"

We grow in righteousness when we live by faith in Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can trust Him more.

 “The essence of faith is being satisfied with all God is for us in Jesus.” – John Piper

God’s Word: “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” – Romans 1:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” – Nahum 1:7

In the Ukraine, there is an enormous cave system called the “Priest’s Grotto.” This gypsum cave is 77 miles long and proved to be an excellent hiding place for Jews during World War II.

Once inside the massive cave, some 38 people were able to evade the Nazis for 344 days, until their liberation by Soviet troops. The cave proved a superior refuge, with clean water sources, separate chambers for cooking and smoke ventilation, little or no flooding, a concealed and difficult entry, and a labyrinth of dark passages.

"When we were inside we felt some security," survivor Shulim Stermer said, "because we knew it would be very hard for Germans or police to come down there, one at a time, feet first."

Their spirits rose as they improved their cave dwelling. "We closed in an area like a tunnel, and we had good covers, beds, pillows, and we slept," Shlomo recalled. "We adjusted and we slept a lot “if you sleep you're not hungry."

The group slept some 15 to 20 hours a day or even longer, on elevated, blanketed beds within a closed gallery that kept hypothermia at bay. Incredibly, nobody became seriously ill during the yearlong stay.

In difficult times, we can come to Our Heavenly Father and He will provide refuge. Today in prayer, thank Christ that in Him we can find refuge in times of trouble.

“When we stray from His presence, He longs for you to come back. He weeps that you are missing out on His love, protection and provision. He throws His arms open, runs toward you, gathers you up, and welcomes you home.” – Charles Stanley

God’s Word: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” – John 14:18

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8

As a child, Bill Clinton often had to protect his younger half-brother Roger from his alcoholic and abusive father.

In 1985, Roger Clinton was arrested for possession of cocaine. He served a year in jail.

During the presidential campaign and subsequent administration of President Clinton, Roger was given the codename "Headache" by the Secret Service due to his knack for landing in trouble. One such incident occurred in 1993 at a New York Knicks basketball game when he got himself into an altercation with a stockbroker.

On President Clinton's last day in office in January 2001, he mercifully issued a flurry of 140 pardons. Roger was one of those on the list. The 1985 cocaine conviction was pardoned and he had a clean criminal record. 

Unfortunately, Roger didn't seem to appreciate his second chance, though; less than a month later he was arrested for drunk driving and disturbing the peace.

We need to appreciate the Lord’s mercies toward us and extend mercy to others. Today in prayer, praise Lord for His mercy and follow His example.

“The essence of justice is mercy.” – Edwin Hubbel Chapin

God’s Word: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” – Matthew 23:23

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor.” – Micah 4:12

On March 31, 2013, the University of Louisville was playing Duke University in a tournament basketball game. Louisville guard Kevin Ware went to block a shot and he landed awkwardly. He snapped the bone in his leg. "I look down and I see my bone is 6 inches out of my leg and I go into automatic shock," Kevin remembers.

The gruesome injury left a nationally televised audience stunned and his teammates were in tears. Kevin is a Christian and as he writhed on the floor, his teammate Luke Hancock went to him and said a prayer.

Kevin was rushed to the hospital and doctors inserted two metal plates into his leg. The shattered bone healed in about 12 weeks. Doctors gave the healthy prognosis that he would be able to play basketball again.

Days later Kevin saw something bigger in his injury. The soft-spoken young man faithfully said: "This is all God. This is all God's plan. He would never let anything happen that He wouldn't want to happen."

The Lord’s plans for us are much greater than our own. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that God has a plan for your life and seek to do His will in all that you do.

“Since God is the highest good, He would not allow any evil to exist in his works unless his omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil.” – Augustine

God’s Word: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” – Isaiah 55:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.’ Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city--a visit required three days.” – Jonah 3:1-3

In his sermon "The Secret Of Obedience." Pastor Adrian Rogers said the following: "Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. Do you want me to tell you what is wrong with the average Christian? He's disobedient. Do you want me to tell you what is wrong with the average church? It is filled with disobedient people. Do you want me to tell you why people are not happy in their faith, they're saved bur they're enduring it rather than enjoying it. They're simply not being obedient. Now, ladies and gentleman, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. Now, obedience is something we don't hear much about. We preach so much on salvation by grace through faith and we tell people that salvation is a gift of God, that sometimes if we talk about obedience people think we're legalist but I would have to agree with Martin Luther who said we're not saved by faith and works, but we are saved by a faith that works and James said that faith without works is dead. There are so many things that hinge on our obedience."

The Lord asks us to faithfully follow Him. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His gospel and be glad to share the Good News of Christ with others.

“Obedience is the road to freedom, humility the road to pleasure, unity the road to personality.” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – James 1:22

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” – Jonah 2:1-2

In late 2009, Christian singer Amy Grant received an email from her manager with an MP3 song entitled "Better Than A Hallelujah" attached. The song was written by Sarah Hart and Chapin Hartford, a pair of songwriters Amy hadn't met. Amy was going through a season of distress and describes what happened: "It was mid-October and two weeks had passed since a close friend of mine died from ovarian cancer. It was also the same month we put my mom and dad into assisted living. My mom has had a severe decline in her health this past year, and a dear friend of mine was in recovery. So, I was just trying to hold steady, be a mom and process all the changes and grieve. At that time, I was sent this song in an e-mail, and I remember that I was sitting in my pajamas and drinking my coffee as I played the song. When it ended, I played it again, and then again. It was amazing being on the receiving end of someone else's hard work communicating the truth of coming to God with honesty and brokenness."

Distress is good when it drives us to a closer walk with Jesus. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that in our distress, our faith in Christ can grow.

"We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody

Beautiful the mess we are, the honest cries, of breaking hearts

Are better than a Hallelujah" - Sarah Hart and Chapin Hartford

God’s Word:  “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” – Psalm 18:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD. – Obadiah 1:4

No other American Founding Father was more industrious than Benjamin Franklin. He was a leading author and printer. He was a statesman, a scientist, and a musician. He was also the inventor of the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, and the carriage odometer. He facilitated many civic organizations, including a fire department the postal system, and a university.

Franklin also tried to cultivate his personality. He devised a week-by-week plan to improve his character by working on thirteen virtues. Franklin's sharp focus, meticulous record-keeping, and diligent work yielded improvements in the first twelve virtues -- temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, tranquility, cleanliness and chastity. However, he found that every time he began to make progress in developing humility, he became proud of it!

If we do not humble ourselves, we will become humbled. Today in prayer, confess any sin of pride in your life and humble yourself before the Lord.

“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!” – Amos 6:1

On August 7, 1974, French tightrope walker Philippe Petit gained fame for his high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, New York. For his feat, which he referred to as "le coup", he walked the wire for 45 minutes. He made eight crossings between the towers, over 1300 feet above the sidewalks of Manhattan. In addition to walking, he sat on the wire, gave knee salutes and, while lying on the wire, spoke with a gull circling above his head. Crowds were spellbound over his performance. Five months later, Petit was on a high wire in St. Petersburg, Florida practicing with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He was 30 feet up in the air and must have become complacent. He suddenly slipped and fell to the concrete. As the 25 year old acrobat lay on the ground, he was observed crying "I can't believe it, I can't believe it. I don't ever fall."

We need to examine our lives and rid ourselves of any spiritual complacency. Today in prayer, ask the Lord that “Thy will be done, not my will” and follow Jesus in all that you do.

“I hate to see complacency prevail in our lives when it's so directly contrary to the teaching of Christ.” – Jimmy Carter

God’s Word: “For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them” – Proverbs 1:32

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.” – Amos 2:6-7

In April 2013, against the backdrop of cuts in U.S. foreign aid, the Christian humanitarian group World Vision launched a $500 million initiative to help 10 million poor children. The initiative is to globally address the issues of clean water, health services and child protection. The "For Every Child" fundraising campaign seeks to buy mosquito nets, improve sanitation, provide food aid, protect children from trafficking, and partner with local churches to support the poor. "This is the most far-reaching endeavor in World Vision's history," said the organization's president, Richard Stearns, in a statement. "Our goals are ambitious and the impact we hope to make would transform the lives of a generation of children. This is not a fundraising campaign but a rescue mission for the children we help and also for the donors who step up to say this is worth the fight."

The poor are always on the Lord’s heart. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He has blessed you with many material blessings. Ask Jesus how you can give to those in need.

“The cry of the poor must either be heard by us, or it will ascend up against us into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” – F.D. Maurice

God’s Word: “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” – Galatians 2:10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” – Joel 2:13

Tim Schenker was born and raised in a Hare Krishna commune in West Virginia. Tim's parents converted to Hare Krishna after being introduced to the faith by a devotee at an airport. After Tim's father disappeared, his mother took the children and left the commune. Tim went to live with cousins in Pennsylvania when he was just eight. "Even though they were Christians, I was still a devout Hare Krishna. I did my Hare Krishna prayers. That's all I knew as a boy. I was sort of stubborn." But slowly the Lord's love broke through Tim's heart and he accepted Christ as his Savior. Tim is now in ministry and he shares the following for those who are searching for God's love: "There is a generation that is looking for something real. When they don't experience the real power and manifest presence of God in their churches, they believe Christianity is a farce. They turn away from Christianity, and they turn to these other kinds of eastern religions. I want to speak into this generation and say, 'There is a real God that you can experience, and He is living today. He loves you, and He wants to have a relationship with you.' There is no other, greater thing in this life than having a relationship with Jesus Christ."

The love of God can find us in any situation and turn failure into glory to God. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His love and rejoice that Jesus is compassionate towards you.

"The dying Jesus is the evidence of God's anger toward sin; but the living Jesus is the proof of God's love and forgiveness." - Lorenz Eifert

God’s Word: “"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16-17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.’” – Hosea 14:1-2

Francisco Gomez started using drugs at ten years of age. He got into a life of crime and on two different occasions tried to kill his entire family. He was sent to prison four times and eventually received a 73-year sentence.

The Gideons visited his prison and made a presentation to the inmates. When Francisco saw what the Gideons were doing, he became enraged. He rushed forward and violently attacked the Gideons, hitting them and cursing them.

The guards overpowered him and took him back to his cell. He was filled with anger as he reflected on what had happened. He ripped off his jacket and threw it against the wall.

As he did, he saw a book fall out of the pocket. He picked up the book and discovered it was a New Testament. He couldn’t believe it— one of the Gideons must have shoved the New Testament into his pocket during the attack.

But for some reason, he suddenly felt drawn to read the book. As he read, the Word of God began to speak to his heart. Within a few hours, Francisco repented of his sins and cried out for the Lord to take over his life.

Not only did God set Francisco free spiritually, but after Francisco’s mother pleaded with a judge for Francisco’s release, he also was set free physically. Today, Francisco is a pastor in Seville, Spain serving the Lord and preaching the Gospel.

The Lord not only wants us to repent and turn away from our sins. Today in prayer, confess any sin and your life and take the needed steps of repentance.

“A Christian is not one who never goes wrong, but one who is enabled to repent and begin over again after each stumble—because of the inner working of Christ.” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” – Matthew 4:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS

“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” – Hosea 10:12

In 1996, a young marine corporal named Joey Mora was standing on a platform of an aircraft carrier patrolling the Persian Gulf.   Incredibly, he fell overboard.  His absence was not known for 36 hours.   A search and rescue mission began, but was given up after another 24 hours.   No one could survive in the sea without even a lifejacket after 60 hours. His parents were notified that he was "missing and presumed dead."

The rest of the story is one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" events.  Script writers would pass it up as "not believable."  Four Pakistani fishermen found Joey Mora about 72 hours after he had fallen from the aircraft carrier. He was treading water in his sleep, clinging to a makeshift floatation device made from his trousers -- a skill learned in military survival training.  He was delirious when they pulled him into their fishing boat.  His tongue was dry and cracked and his throat parched with thirst.

In 1998, two years after the event, Stone Philips of NBC Dateline interviewed Joey. He recounted his unbelievable story of will to live and survival.  He said it was God who kept him struggling to survive.  What was the most excruciating thing of all?  Joey said that the one thought that took over his body and pounded in his brain was "Water!" 

The Lord desires to shower His righteousness on us, but we must thirst for it. Today in prayer, desire Christ in all you do and thirst for His righteousness.

"My only hope is that I shall be clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ." - M. Lloyd-Jones

God’s Word: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” – Ephesians 6:14

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2013, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS