Sacrificial Impact

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

On New Year's Day in 1956, five missionaries - Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, and Pete Fleming - left to visit the Auca Indians of Ecuador. Four days later, at 12:30 p.m. Nate radioed his wife saying that he had seen some Auca men walking toward their beach. "Pray for us," he said. "This is the day. Will contact you at 4:30."

Well, 4:30 p.m. came. Nothing. Sundown. Still no word. A search began and a week later four bodies were found. The fifth one had been washed away.

Truly, these five men had lived for Christ, but where, you ask, is the gain? By the end of 1958, Jim Elliott's wife, Elizabeth, and Rachel Saint, Nate's sister, were living among the Aucas. The five men who murdered the missionaries had become Christians and spiritual leaders among their people. Nine years later, two of those men baptized two of Nate Saint's children.

Would you be willing to die for Christ? More important, are you willing to live for Him in a way that impacts the lives of others? You do - when you sacrificially and lovingly serve others around you and pray for them. You do when you pray for our nation and our leaders, asking God that they will turn from sin to a life of freedom in Him.

Pray for our nations leaders today, asking God's blessing, guidance and direction in their lives. Also ask that God break through the spiritual barriers some leaders put up against Him and His people, so that they will submit to God and follow His ways. Also pray for your neighbors and those throughout your community that they too might know Christ; maybe even because of your willingness to reach out to them and serve them.

1 Timothy 2:1-6, ¹I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— ²for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

God Bless and have a great day!
Roger

Adapted from a devotional from ~ The Presidential Prayer Team™

DAILY DEVOTIONS

I don't know about you, but there are times that I struggle with my daily devotions. I want to be consistent, I want to give God all the glory in my life, and grow to know Him better each day.
But at times I get distracted, or other times it seems a little laborious. At those times I like to turn to alternative ways in which to spend time with God and worship Him. One of those ways is watching powerful worship videos people have put together on youtube or godtube.

I recently was exposed to this new video that I just can't stop watching, meditating on the power of God in creation. It's a song written and sung by Brian Doerksen called "Creation Calls."

Watch it and let me know what you think. I think it is one of the most powerful worship videos I have ever seen. I was moved deep within that God is so real, wondering how anyone can deny that all things have been created by the Master Designer.

May the Lord bless you abundantly today as you worship Him in all things.

Yours, and His, Roger

Why Marriage Matters

Why does Marriage being defined as the union of one man to one woman matter? Why is it such a big deal to limit the benefits of marriage only to those who abide by the correct definition of marriage? Why can't homosexual unions between two men or two women be recognized with equal protection and provisions? What's wrong with giving the same benefits to civil unions that are given to citizens who choose to live according to the traditional definition of marriage?

Here's the reason. It's clear that an anti-marriage campaign is moving forward piecemeal [that is quietly, yet slowly but surely] because Washington doesn't want to bring the redefinition of marriage to open debate--in Congress, or with the American people. They've seen what we've seen: Each and every time voters in a state have had the chance to protect marriage at the ballot box, they have done so--because common-sense Americans care deeply about marriage and understand that it provides kids with the best chance to have a mom and a dad.

But if the majority of voters in the majority of the states have protected marriage as the union of a man and a woman, why are our federal elected officials so out of step with the will of the people? Marriage and family should be respected and supported by our government--especially for the sake of the next generation. The men and women elected--or appointed--to office have the ability to help shape our country's future for years to come. That's why elections matter, and why confirmation hearings matter as well.

Marriage matters because it is the foundational institution in America (and basically around the world) that makes our culture work. Every child needs to be raised by a Mom and a Dad. Two Moms or two Dads, not matter how sincere, cannot provide that foundation for a child.

God also established marriage to provide for a family. Only a woman and a man can reproduce. And God has established ground rules for marriage to make it last and be effective. Sexual relations outside of marriage like adultery or premarital sex are destructive to the cohesiveness of the couple and a correct example that is to be set for children.

Families are God's first priority for raising children right and effectively passing on the teaching of true values and belief systems.

As government officials continue to ignore the common sense of our nations people, and continually push forward an agenda that is destructive to marriage and family, the end result will be the dissolution of families. And I believe the eventual dissolution of American culture, way of life, and blessing.

Stand up for Families, vote for government leaders who will support marriage and family, and stop this insanity that is destroying our nation!

Love you all,
Roger