Prosperity (December 27, 2006) by Jim Crosby

A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. ~Proverbs 28:25

As far back as I can remember my Mother would always make sure we had black eyed peas for dinner on New Year's day. The belief was that if you ate black eyed peas on the first day of the year then you would prosper throughout the entire year. Another part of that tradition was to have greens─collards, turnips, or spinach─as a part of your New Year' day meal so you would make lots of money that year. Funny, how prosperity and making money, in that old tradition, are not the same. They could be, but aren't necessarily the same thing.

The brief dictionary definition of prosperity is the "condition of being successful or thriving; especially economic well being." Economic well being usually translates "money" in our minds. And we all know what money is. Accumulate enough and you are said to have great wealth. Wealth is defined as "an abundance of valuable material possessions or resources." I think we would all agree that to have both prosperity and wealth would be a very good thing. So, why tempt fate? Just go ahead have those greens and peas together on New Year's day. .

I'm not sure how that tradition got started. It's funny how different cultures view different things as "lucky" or as precursors to good or ways to avoid evil. Many of these had their beginnings in superstitions that sprang up back when we were less informed than we are in contemporary times.

According to www.pioneerthinking.com the ancient Romans gave gifts of nuts, dates, figs and round cakes to attract wealth.  Northern Italians eat lentils, which symbolize coins, in hopes of gaining riches during the coming year.

In Spain, if you eat one grape at each stroke of the clock at midnight on New Year's Eve, you will have good luck.

Dumplings are favored in northern China since they look like nuggets of gold. Hence, they signal good fortune.

The Vietnamese eat carp for good luck. Cambodians have sticky rice cakes made with sweet beans. In Iran, they celebrate the New Year in March by sprouting grains of wheat and barley in water.

Another American tradition is to have Hoppin' John. That's a casserole of rice and black-eyed peas which sometimes contains pork for flavoring. By eating that you not only have prosperity, but peace as well.

When you look up "prosper" in the concordance of the NLT Bible it also refers you to the word peace. Under "peace" it says "harmony in personal relationship, especially with God." Now, all this is starting to come together. It is possible to have prosperity, wealth, and peace all together. Sounds like the ultimate doesn't it?

In Leviticus, Chapter 3 we read about the procedures for presenting a peace offering to God. The instructions were very specific. It was something they wanted to be sure and get right. The NLT Bible says, "A person gave a peace offering as an expression of gratitude and a means of establishing fellowship between himself and God. Because it symbolized peace with God, part of the offering could be eaten by the person presenting it."

Seems like that was kind of a "have your cake and eat it too" type of situation. You present this gift to God to gain His favor, but you are supplied with a meal as well.

But, the key here is that having a peaceful relationship with God was of utmost important to the Israelites.

This "peace" they were seeking was rooted in a reverent fear of God. In Deuteronomy, Chapter 5, God presents the 10 commandments to Moses, who relays the message to the people. They are in awe of this mighty God. These laws make an impression on them. They understand that this is a God who is in control, who is looking out for them, and who will punish those who disobey these commandments. A justice system is evolving that will help the people govern themselves fairly and with wisdom.

So, they request that Moses approach God and then come back and tell them everything God says. They hunger to know more about this awesome God. And His reply to Moses is; "Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands. If they did, they and their descendants would prosper ---there's that word again---forever.

Sometimes, because of the circumstances in our lives, it may be hard to envision peace and prosperity. Maybe you are going through or have endured some real hard times. When things look bleak, it may be difficult to see how prosperity can be achieved.

When the Israelites were in captivity in Babylon this was exactly their situation. How would the good times ever return, they might have been wondering? God tells them to keep their heads up. Don't despair. And above all: "Pray to the Lord for that city where you are held captive, for if Babylon has peace, so will you."

That last part might have been hard advice to follow. How could they pray for a city they despised?  One where they were held captive? They didn't want Babylon to have peace. They wanted the Babylonians to be wiped out by God. They wanted their freedom.

But, God's wisdom pointed out if things were peaceful for the Babylonians, even though they were enemies, then things would be peaceful for the captives as well. Then, after that peace was established would come prosperity.

So, as we eat our black eyed peas and greens this New Year. Let us keep in mind that the prosperity, wealth, and peace we are seeking starts with our relationship to God. Let's pray, and study, and work hard to make sure we are close to Him. Then peace and prosperity will follow.

Monday Prayer: Lord as we stand on the threshold of a brand new year we are excited about all the things you have in store for us individually and collectively as Good Samaritan Church in 2007. We pray that our strong relationship with You will be first and foremost, then we understand that the prosperity we are seeking will follow.    Amen!

Author's note: Best wishes for the most prosperous year ever in 2007!

A Wobbly Wheel at Christmas (December 20, 2006) by Jim Crosby

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About the same time wise men arrived in Jerusalem asking, "Where is the newborn King of the Jews?"...When they saw the star they were filled with joy, then they entered the house and fell down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ~Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11

A little girl who had recently become the big sister of a new baby brother listened to the story of the Wise Men's gifts to the Baby Jesus. She thought for a moment and then said, "Well, I guess gold and all that stuff are all right, but I'll bet Mary really wished somebody had brought some diapers."

The story of the Wise Men really embodies the whole idea of gift-giving at Christmas. Memories work overtime at Christmas. They are a very important as we fondly, sometimes sadly, but usually with gladness remember Christmases past. Yet, when we think back to some of our fondest Christmas memories, we often find they are wrapped up in the gift-giving scenario.

We recall the excitement of waiting for Santa Claus as a kid. How excited we were...couldn't go to sleep...up before the crack of dawn. I vividly remember one of my greatest Christmases as a kid. I got a bicycle, a football, shoulder pads, a helmet, football jersey and just for some variety, I got a basketball, too. And you didn't think I could remember that far back (smile).

But, as we go along in life, the focus shifts. We begin to remember the gifts we gave at Christmas more than those we received. This is especially true when children come along. The real, true joy of Christmas now begins to come from the happiness we derive from giving, from seeing the smile on the faces of those we love and knowing our gifts have brought them joy. We graduate from "me,me,me" at Christmas to the joy of doing for and giving to others.

There were two little boys who just couldn't wait for Christmas to arrive. They had asked for trains, so on Christmas morning they rushed downstairs before dawn. Sure enough, under the tree was a gleaming passenger train for Billy and a sturdy freight train, for Bobby. They were so excited they grabbed the engines, rushed up to their parents' bedroom, eyes sparkling, faces smiling, deliriously happy.

Mom agreed those trains were great. Dad was so groggy, tired, and sleepy he could hardly say anything, but agreed the trains were neat. But, another surprise awaited the lads in the basement. There was a huge table covered with railroad tracks wired so both trains could run at the same time. They were ecstatic!

What they didn't know was their Dad had worked all night long building and laying the track and wiring. They couldn't appreciate his hours of planning, expensive shopping, lost sleep and the need for quiet construction. Years later they would understand their father's sacrificial love, when they became fathers.

My own somewhat similar story is one I call the "Wobbly Wheel at Christmas." I'm not nearly as talented as the father who expertly wired and constructed those train tracks. In fact, you could call me"mechanically brain dead." I go to lengths to find things, even if I have to pay extra, that say "no assembly required." Because frankly when you have to assemble something, I've found those instructions usually don't make sense to me, or they leave out a step, or a part is missing, or I forgot batteries, whatever. I know it's an insidious plot by the toy-makers, machine manufacturers, engineers, and plant workers of the world to befuddle me and that's easy to do.

Anyway, we were living in Ft. Lauderdale and my oldest son, Clint, was about three or four. He wanted a little red wagon for Christmas. It had to be assembled from scratch. I'll admit there weren't that many parts, but the ones that were there just didn't all seem to fit properly or at least they didn't have a nice, tight fit. I started on that wagon assembly project about midnight on Christmas Eve and finished it around 4 or 4:30 a.m. Toward the end I was a little apprehensive that Clint would wake up early, come into the living room, and see me messing with that darn wagon under the Christmas tree.

He didn't and thankfully I finished it. There was only one little problem. The right rear wheel wobbled when it rolled. It looked like it was going to come off. And no matter how much I tried to get that wheel to straighten up and roll right, it still wobbled. Didn't affect the smooth rolling of the wagon...it just looked funny. It always looked like it was going to fall off, but never did.

Well, Clint loved that wagon. He was constantly after me to pull him around the yard in it. Not exactly what I had in mind. I had thought he would go out back and load stuff in the wagon and pull it himself. No, his idea was for me to pull and for him to ride. So there we were walking the neighborhood, Dad pulling, Clint riding like King of the World, and that right wheel wobbling like it was going to come off. That thing wobbled through the rest of our time in Ft. Lauderdale, it moved to Quincy with us, then came to Tallahassee with the rest of our stuff, wobbling-away all the time, but never falling off.

The important thing is the pleasure that wagon brought to my son, who didn't care that the wheel wobbled. The Wise Men didn't care how difficult it was to find this baby boy. They studied prophecies and searched the skies endlessly to find where he was. They didn't care that they had to travel a long way, mostly at night, because you can't follow a star during daylight. Those camels didn't have any headlights, so all kinds of things could happen to them at night ranging from falling in a hole to falling prey to robbers.

It didn't matter that they found Him in a stable instead of a palace. They didn't care that he was not wrapped in silk or fine linen or he was being hidden because as soon as He was born there were some who wanted to kill Him. It didn't matter because they fulfilled the mission of finding and worshipping Him as a King and presenting the finest gifts they had, Gold ... Frankincense ...and Myrrh. Gifts with "no assembly required," which they could have figured out anyway since they were Wise Men.

My boys are grown now and they usually just want money for Christmas. I can assemble that! But, even if they wanted something I couldn't assemble, I'd still consider myself a "Wise Man," because I've learned the true happiness and real meaning of Christmas lies not in what you receive, but in the joy of giving. No greater example of that can be found than the gift of God, who gave us His Son on that night in Bethlehem. This is a gift that keeps on giving...forever!

This Week's Prayer: Father God, thank you for the eternal gift of the Christ child. It is the most outstanding example of the joy that comes from giving. It is truly more blessed to give than to receive. Amen!

Author's note: Merry Christmas everyone! May God richly bless each gift you give and those you receive.

The Van Driver in Bethlehem (December 13, 2006) by Jim Crosby

Don't be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior─yes, the Messiah, the Lord─has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David. And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger wrapped snugly in strips of cloth. ~Luke 2: 10-12

I used to drive a van through Bethlehem four nights a week in December. It was tricky duty. First you had to turn the van lights off! Then as you wound your way through the streets of the city you had to be careful not to run over any travelers because Bethlehem was very crowded. You never could tell when a sheep or a goat would jump in your path. And heaven forbid that you should bump into a Roman centurion riding on his horse along the streets for crowd control. All the while I had to explain to my passengers what they were seeing in the lights of the lanterns as we passed by.

For the past 19 years Killearn United Methodist Church in Tallahassee has been presenting "The Living Christmas Story" (LCS) on four consecutive nights in December. It is estimated that over a quarter-of-a-million folks have viewed this depiction of eleven scenes surrounding the birth of the Christ child.

It has probably been eight or nine years since I drove one of those vans through the church grounds that are converted into a replica of Bethlehem replete with about 100 actors/actresses (church volunteers) playing various roles. But I can still vividly remember and describe each of those scenes. That's the impact that the Bethlehem story has made not only on me and all who have participated or viewed this event in Tallahassee, but on everyone throughout history who has heard this story.

Let me take you on a little trip through Bethlehem so we can recall the true meaning of Christmas. As one LCS actor was quoted in the local paper as saying, "Santa Claus, reindeer and elves are nice, but this is the real deal."

After taking quite a few passengers through Bethlehem and hearing the oohs and aahs, one night a passenger sitting behind me said why don't you narrate this for us? What a novel idea, a radio announcer, being asked to narrate a story? I agreed and here basically, in condensed version, is what people see and hear when they are transported back in time to Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born.

As we enter the gates the first thing we see is a brightly lit scene in which the angel Gabriel is appearing to Mary. "Don't be frightened Mary for God has decided to bless you. You will become pregnant and have a son. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High." (Luke 1:30-32). This is how the story starts.

Then as we proceed on through the streets we see a straw market on the right where the women are making and selling baskets. A little further down there is market- place with fruits, bread and assorted foods. There are even beggars outside weakly crying out "Alms for the poor."

Next the drama really accelerates as we look off to the right and see a beautiful angel on a hill. Below her are shepherds and real sheep listening to her proclamation that a Savior is being born this very night in town. Here I would explain briefly, as we paused in front of this scene, how unusual it was that God would choose shepherds to be the first to receive this dramatic announcement.

Shepherds were some of the most disrespected people around during those times. They were dirty and smelly, just like we would be if we hung out with a bunch of sheep in the fields. If you were falsely accused of a crime and only had a shepherd as a witness of your innocence forget about it. No one would take the word of a shepherd in a court of law. But, how important those shepherds were to the sheep, as they lovingly and with care, tended to their needs.

So why did God choose shepherds to hear the news first? Maybe He felt they would believe this message more readily than someone with a higher standing in society. Or maybe it was because they "represented all who needed cleansing." They were humble enough to see a baby born in a manager as becoming a king.

Then behind the angel many other angels appear. These are projected on a video screen that has not been visible in the dark. I don't think God did it that way. But, in the 21st century this is a good way to capture the impact of the heavenly host of angels.

As we continue through Bethlehem we see a carpenter and his son working. I remind them that Jesus worked as a carpenter with his earthly father Joseph. Then there's a blacksmith working. We see women at a well drawing water. On the far edge of town there's a campfire where travelers stop to warm themselves. Throughout the trip we see census takers with scrolls stopping travelers and checking the list for their names. Roman centurions parole the area on real horses shouting "Move along peasants."

Next we view a brightly lit, ornate setting. It's King Herod's court and with a scowl on his face he is giving audience to three wise men. "About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose and we have come to worship him?' Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem." (Matthew2:1-3)

I give a brief history lesson on Herod, and how even though he had accomplished a lot with his building projects, what a jealous king he was. One who would kill members of his own family even if he wrongly suspected their designs on the throne.

As we move on through Bethlehem we pass a fishing family mending nets. Then approach an Inn where Joseph is being told by the innkeeper there is no room for them, while a very tired and ready-to-deliver Mary and a donkey wait outside. (The balky donkeys we've had are another story.)

Then as we round the bend we see it. The stable. There are the shepherds. They beat us here. There the wise men are. We see sheep, goats, and donkeys. There is Joseph. Beside him is Mary. And all eyes are drawn toward the main attraction. Lying in the manager. It's Jesus! What a happy and beautiful scene.

As we leave the scene, halfway down the road I would pause and ask the people look back at that great scene and all the joy depicted there. But, as soon as that beautiful baby was born there were those who wanted to kill him. Then, I would ask them, for contrast, to look ahead. The last thing we see is a cross. The cross on which that baby, after he was grown, was crucified on. I would point out, however, that it is an empty cross and because of that there is hope for all mankind. Merry Christmas!

This Week's Prayer: Happy Birthday Lord. Thank you for this beautiful story and
how it impacts our lives, not just during the Holiday Season, but every day of the year! Amen!

Author's note: I hope this is your happiest Christmas ever! In the midst of all the wrappings and trappings, remember the real deal---the fabulous birth of the Savior. Amen.

An Early Start (December 6, 2006) by Jim Crosby

Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and a delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.  ~Luke1:13-14

On Thanksgiving Day a local radio station began playing all Christmas music all day and night until December 25^th. The next day, billed as the biggest shopping day of the year, some stores opened as early as 5 a.m. That Friday is now called "Black Friday" because the revenues generated on that day alone have the potential to lift a company's financial statement out of the red ink and put it in the "black." One day can change a store's outlook from losing to winning, from a deficit to a profit.

It seems some folks want to get an early start on Christmas. All this post-Thanksgiving activity signals the beginning of the seven-day shopping week as stores stay open later everyday and any day of the week is a good time to shop.

I used to be one of those early shoppers who get their list together and buy everyone's presents before the stores get overly crowded. Not any more. With so much on my plate these days the shopping gets done, when it gets done. It's not any less important than before, it just has to fall into place with other things on a crowded holiday season list. Although I will admit I'd prefer to be ahead of the game and get it all taken care of early, it just doesn't seem to work that way any more.

I know some people who wait until the last week, some even the last day, to do most of it. Being a planner and an organizer, that would drive me crazy. Still, I'm sure those folks enjoy the holiday season as much as I do.

Actually, this being only the first week in December, it could be considered a little early to start Christmas devotions. But, there are a couple of reasons for doing this. First, it's my favorite time of the year and just thinking about Christmas and its significance puts me in a festive mood. It energizes me and I get a lot accomplished.

Second, there is a story in the Bible that sets a precedent for us to look ahead with great anticipation to Christmas. It concerns the birth of a child, always something to celebrate.

Even though it indirectly concerns the birth you may be thinking of, it's the birth of a different child.

In Luke, Chapter 1 we read about this early start. This one was kind of dramatic. It involved an angel, not just any angel, but one of God's main messengers─Gabriel. Whenever Gabriel showed up you knew it was not an ordinary event, it was going to be something spectacular. He had a dramatic impact on Daniel when he appeared to explain a vision "As Gabriel approached the place I was standing I became so terrified that I fell to the ground." (Daniel 8:17) So, when Gabriel appeared it was big!

Also involved was Zechariah a priest who would get the earliest start on the first Christmas of anyone. The other early-start person who would play a role was his wife Elizabeth who was well past the child-bearing age. They were childless and had long since stopped praying for a child.

You can imagine how shocked Zechariah was ("he was startled and gripped with fear" Luke 1:12) when Gabriel appeared to him in the temple. But the angel said "Do not be afraid Zechariah your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will give him the name John."

Now think about this. Zechariah and Elizabeth were godly people but they had suffered the anxiety of being childless for so many years they had stopped praying about it. They had just accepted that it was not going to happen. Ever had something like that happen in your life? You wanted something so badly and God had not granted your wishes, so you gave up. Maybe God was not rejecting your prayer; it was a matter of timing.

I like the way the NLT Bible puts it (pg 1536). "Zechariah thought it incredible that he and his wife, in their old age, could conceive a child. But, what God promises he delivers. And God delivers on time! You can have complete confidence that God will keep His promises. Their fulfillment may not be the next day, but they will be ‘at the proper time.' If you are waiting for God to answer some request or to fill some need, remain patient. No matter how impossible God's promises may seem, what He has said in His word will come true at the right time."

Gabriel went on to explain to Zechariah, not only was he going to be a father, but this child was going to be special. Now, I know there is no such thing as a child who is not special. All children are a gift from God. But, the special thing about this child would be the plan that God had for him. It was one that would impact history.

Gabriel revealed some of that plan saying that this child would be the forerunner of the Messiah. He would herald "God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah." To this Zechariah replied: "Do you expect me to believe this? I'm and old man and my wife is an old woman."  Uh, oh! I don't think you should have said that Zechy, old boy.

To this the angel replied: "I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news." (The Message) Now I don't picture this as a calm statement, do you? I think Gabriel boomed this out in a very loud voice. He followed up by informing Zechariah that since he was a doubter he would be unable to talk again until the day his son was born.

Elizabeth did conceive and give birth to a son who we know as John the Baptist.

He would prepare the way, through his preaching, for the Messiah. But, Gabriel's work was not done. Next he appeared to Mary to tell her that she would bear a child, who would be the Son of God and his name would be Jesus.  Thus, Elizabeth, who was in the sixth month of her pregnancy when Gabriel appeared to Mary, was able to share her experience. Mary went and stayed with Elizabeth for three months and as first time moms who had received startling and happy news from God, they were able to compare notes and strengthen and help each other with the approaching births.

And that's the story of how Zechariah got an early start on the First Christmas. Maybe nothing that striking will happen to you at Christmas, 2006. The important thing to remember is how it all got an early start with the birth of a special child to an elderly couple as a long delayed answer to prayer. That event would prepare the world for the birth of the One who would change history and whose birthday we celebrate each December 25^th.

This Week's Prayer: Thank you for the story of John the Baptist and the example it provides of how answers to our prayers may be delayed, but turn out even better than we could have imagined. It's a story of what was viewed as a long-delayed answer to a prayer, was actually an early start on the first Christmas. Amen!

Author's note: Happy early shopping. Gift giving is good because it commemorates God's great gift to us.           

It Only Takes One (November 29, 2006) by Jim Crosby

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ~Galatians 6:9

Joel Osteen (Your Best Life Now) says he met a man who worked as a mechanic in a shop that serviced 18-wheelers. The man said that for many years he was treated unfairly at work. His fellow employees felt like he didn't fit in. Being a Christian he declined to accompany them in some of the things they did. So, year after year, he was subjected to all sorts of injustice and ridicule. But, his attitude was that he wasn't working to please men, but to please God, so he worked hard and kept his mouth shut.

"One day, out of the blue, the owner of the company called him. This owner wasn't involved in the day-to-day operations, so the mechanic had never before met him. But, the owner told him that he was ready to retire and he was looking for somebody to take over the business. ‘I'd like you to have it,' the owner said to the mechanic."

"You know sir, I'd love to have it," said the mechanic, ‘but I don't have enough money to buy your business."

"No you don't understand," replied the owner. "You don't need the money. I have money. I'm looking for somebody to take over the business. I'm looking for someone I can trust to continue the work I have started. I want to give it to you."

"Today that mechanic owns the company free and clear!" To this day the man still doesn't know why the owner chose him. He doesn't even know how he got his name. Almost overnight he went from the lowest rung on the ladder of the business to the head man, in charge of the entire company.

When relating the story he laughed and said, "You know Joel, they don't make fun of me in the shop anymore!" This true story shows us that it only takes one touch of God's favor to change our lives dramatically. It is a perfect example of why we should continue to do the right thing no matter how discouraging the results may be. If we have God's favor that's all we need. As Joel says, "One touch of God's favor can bring the right person into your life."

The apostle Paul had certainly met with enough frustration in his life to wonder if God's favor still rested on him. He had been shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, imprisoned and subjected to much injustice and ridicule. Yet, he remained a strong example of staying the course and doing the right thing.

In writing to the church at Galatia Paul's message was one of encouragement. From his life examples he knew that the Galatian church was going to be tested. They would be subjected to some of the same trials he had faced. So he reminded them that while the reward for their faithfulness might not be immediate, it was certain.

He pointed out that when you plant seed in a field you don't harvest it the next day. It takes time. It must grow. It is the same with our spirituality. It must grow and it will be harvested in due season.

The Life Application Bible (NLT) says: "It is discouraging to continue to do right and receive no word of thanks or see no tangible results. But, Paul challenged the Galatians and he challenges us to keep on doing good and to trust God for the results. In due time, we will reap a harvest of blessing."

I remember playing baseball as a kid and whenever one of our teammates would get behind in the count as a batter─maybe he was completely fooled on a pitch and swung wildly and missed─ we would yell. "Only takes one, Billy. Only takes one." No matter how bad he had looked on earlier pitches, we were reminding him that it only took one great swing, with solid contact, to change all that. To have something good happen, the batter had to remain convinced in his mind that he could do the job, keep on doing the fundamental things he had learned in order for a favorable result to occur. If he became discouraged and thought, "This pitcher really has my number," guess what! Nothing good would happen.

Joel tells another story. This one concerning a single Mom who had to have emergency surgery. After the insurance claim was settled she still owed $27,000. She didn't complain, just went about paying it a little at a time although it was very difficult.

Then, just before Christmas she got a letter from the hospital saying that each year they liked to select a few families and do something for them. So, they not only were forgiving her entire debt, but they were refunding what she had already paid.

Now, you may be thinking, "Jim, why are you relating these pie-in-the-sky stories about this single Mom and the one about the mechanic who was given the company. Even though they are true stories they are just feel-good tales. Nothing like that could ever happen to me."

You know what, you are probably right. If that is your thinking then nothing like that will probably take place. In order for something great to happen you need to be favor-minded. A poor-little-old-me, nothing-good-ever-happens-in-my-favor way of thinking makes it much more difficult to envision some of the great things God can and will do in your life. Remember our recent devotion on "Thankfulness?" It stated that "God is just giving away little pieces of heaven each day." You must be favor-minded to understand this and to receive even bigger pieces of heaven.

King David was a great example of a person who lived a favor-minded life. He certainly made his share of mistakes---big ones! But, he didn't dwell on that. He wrote, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." He expected these things, not on a part time basis, but everyday. The Message puts David's thoughts this way: "God's kindness and goodness chases me down everywhere I go." If you're favor-minded you just can't get away from the good things of God. And remember, just as the batter who is behind in the count must concentrate on, "It only takes one." Yes, you only have to be touched by God's favor once to change your situation in life dramatically and happily.

This Week's Prayer: Lord we pray that we can remain steadfast and determined, in spite of trying circumstances, to be favor-minded. We know that Your favor can right any wrong and for this we give You thanks and praise. Amen!

Author's note: With the arrival of the Holiday season stay alert for God's favor in your life and you won't be disappointed.