This is the Weekly Devotional Message from

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

www.JCSM.org

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Hello!

How cold was it on Christmas?  Here in San Diego, it was 73 degrees!  Needless to say, it was not a "White Christmas"!

Did you have a great time celebrating Christ's birth?  Mine was good.  My family met at my parents' house.  There were 24 of us!  My younger cousins are looking older and more mature.  We ate lunch and relaxed.

I was really blessed on Christmas eve.  After attending three services, I felt really energized and close to God.  Each service contributed an important part of my spiritual meal for the day.  Praise the Lord!

The end of the year is quickly approaching.  On New Year's Eve, I'll be hearing Rebecca St. James perform at Knott's Berry Farm!  There will be some other bands, too.  What will you be doing?  I hope you have a safe and exciting night.

Would you like to know how fast your internet connection really is?  If you go to http://www.summitcomputer.net/speedtest/unlisted/speedtest50.asp, you can see!  

A friend of mine named Nettie has released a Christian, rock album.  You can find it at www.nettieclevenger.com.  She sent me a copy and it was encouraging and a talented production.

Please visit my web page!  There's over 1500 links (pictures, midis, Bible lessons, humor, proverbial stories, links, devotions, poetry, prayer journals and much more!) and it has registered over 39,700 hits!

If this ministry has touched you in a special way, please pray and consider sending a gift to Jesus Christ Saves Ministries.  On the web, we're encouraging the believers and sharing the gospel with unbelievers.  I'm also doing counseling on a regular basis.  As I do full-time ministry on the web, love and help others, I never charge them anything for my time or services.

Would you like to support God's work on the web?  You can become a Super Supporter of JCSM by sending only $5 a month.  You'll be joining us in our vision to reach people on the web with the good news!  Of course, a gift of any size will be appreciated!  My address and more information is at the bottom of this message.

Welcome to the new screen names or recipients of this message!  Here are the devotions, challenge, moment of introspection and the quotations for the week.  Have a fantastic week and God bless you!

Love in Christ,

Jason J. Gastrich

ICQ#: 20731140

The Weekly Devotional Message

Day 1:   "The Pursuit of Wisdom"

Psalm 111:10   "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.  His praise endures forever."

Psalm 37:30   "The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice."

Proverbs 2:10-14   "When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the wicked;"

Proverb 3:13-18   "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.  She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.  Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor.  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her."

James 1:5, 6   "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

Prayer:   "Thanks for teaching us about wisdom, Lord. Thank you for telling the world to get it because it's valuable. Help us to prioritize becoming wise. Thank you for giving us awesome wisdom in Your Word! Bless us and make us like You, Lord. Let us memorize the wisdom You have for us. Help us apply it to our lives. Thank you for always giving us wisdom when we ask. Remind us to ask

Day 2:   "Praise the King!"

Jeremiah 10:10   "But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King."

Psalm 145:1   "I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever."

Daniel 4:37   "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down."

Revelation 19:16   "And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

1 Timothy 1:17   "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen."

Prayer:   "Thank you for being so worthy of our praise! Let us praise You day and night. Thank you for being our sovereign King. There's no other God or King like You! Thank you for being perfect, holy and just. Remind us that You will judge the world one day. Thank you for being such a great King; greater than any we've seen on Earth. Remind us that You are in control, even when things seem out of control. Praise You for never leaving Your throne. Help us to see You there and honor You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 3:   "Get Some Advice"

Proverb 11:14   "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety."

Proverb 12:15   "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise."

Proverb 15:22   "Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established."

Proverb 24:5, 6   "A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety."

Proverbs 19:20, 21   "Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.  There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD'S counsel--that will stand."

Prayer:   "Thank you for the many benefits of getting godly counsel. Give us meekness and humility, so we can ask others for advice. Help us to choose wise people when we seek counsel. Thank you for our Christian friends, leaders and pastors. Bless us all, Lord. Thank you for the awesome advice that You give, through Your Word and through people. Let us be sensitive to what You are saying. Help us to obey You. Thank you for wanting the best for us and being faithful at all times. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 4:   "The Sanctification Process"

Hebrews 2:11   "For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren."

Philippians 1:6 "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Joshua 3:5   "And Joshua said to the people, 'Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.'"

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8   "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.  For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.  Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit."

Prayer:   "Thank you for wanting us to be sanctified. Thank you for being unsatisfied for us to be lukewarm or hurting because of our sins. Purify us, Lord. Reveal our sins to us and help us to repent. Thank you for being a real God who helps us obey You! Thank you for helping us to overcome many sins, already! Remind us of the progress we've made. Help us to hate evil and remember that Satan is a liar. Thank you for being faithful to complete the work You begin. Give us persistence and perseverance. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 5:   "Celebrate!"

Psalm 5:11   "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You."

Psalm 9:2   "I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18   "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Philippians 4:4   "Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!"

Prayer:   "Thank you for giving us times or celebration! Remind us that celebrating it's perfectly fine and even expected! Thank you for giving us so many things to rejoice about. Thank you for saving us, cleansing us, putting smiles on our faces, giving us godly friends, making old things new, giving us better goals and higher ambitions. Thank you for knowing what we need and telling us how we should get those things. Help us to obey You and take what You give. Forgive us for being stubborn and obstinate. Let us rejoice and celebrate! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 6:   "Spiritual Birth"

John 3:3-8 "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.'"

1 Peter 1:22, 23   "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever."

John 6:63   "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.  The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."

Prayer:   "Thank you for giving us a spiritual birth! Remind us that there is a spiritual world and we are spiritual beings. Thank you for putting us on Earth. Let us make the most of our time here. Thank you for not abandoning us. Help us to read Your Word, sing Your praises, fellowship with Christians and obey Your precepts. Praise You for being Lord of all! There's no other God like You in all the universe. Thank you for eternal life! Thank you for the Holy Spirit within us that is making us holy and helping us live better lives. To You be all the glory, honor and praise, forever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 7:   "Our Only Savior"

Luke 2:11   "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Isaiah 43:11 "I, even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no savior."

Isaiah 45:21 "Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me."

John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

Acts 5:30, 31 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."

Prayer:   "Thank you for being our one and only, awesome Savior! Remind us that You have always saved the ones who have asked You for salvation. Thank you for hearing us and honoring Your promises. Let us trust You more. Give us deep faith in You. Thank you for giving us the Bible, which cannot be disproven. Thank you for giving us such a solid truth. Thank you for coming to Earth and dying for our sins. Help us to understand what You did. You are a great God. Let us understand the concept of giving one's life away for a greater good. Thank you for letting us give our lives to You! You give such wonderful things in exchange for our wholehearted devotion. Remind us that You are the God of the universe, the same God that parted the Red Sea and raised Lazarus from the dead. Thank you for salvation! Thank you for life in Heaven! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Challenge

Make a New Year's resolution! What did you lack last year? What would you like to change?

Pray and meditate on what you can do to improve your life. Remember, there's nothing magical about making a New Year's resolution. You'll fail unless you involve God and ask Him to help you.

Allow God to do an awesome work in your life in 2001. We are in the end times and there isn't any time to waste. Seek God like you never have. Remember that there's always more to God than we see or realize.

You'd be surprised at what you could learn if you dedicated only 10 minutes a day to God. You'd be amazed at what you could do if you stopped wasting 10 minutes a day and did something productive with that time. If you're feeling led, try giving up a television show and use that time to pray and seek God.

Make your own resolution and try your best to follow it. Ask God for help. If you fail once, don't worry; just try again. God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

A Moment of Introspection

Analyze the way God brought Jesus into the world.

Isn't it interesting how shepherds were invited to Jesus' birth? The angels visited shepherds instead of doctors, tax collectors, business men, etc. Perhaps God planned this because shepherds had the qualities He desired.

Shepherds were generally meek. They had plenty of time to listen and act. They were genuine and without a need to be superficial. What sense would there be in acting pretentious when you're trying to herd sheep?

Jesus was born in a manger. This manger was in a stable because there was no room in the inn. How do you think the conversation happened when Joseph spoke to the innkeeper? How could a person seriously make a pregnant woman stay the night in a stable?

At any rate, God had a plan. He orchestrated everything. Perhaps things happened like they did to illustrate how some people's hearts would be open and ready to act while others' hearts would be adamant about sending the Savior away.

Quotations

A person who loves you wants to know how they can compliment and enrich your life in the best possible way.

Why do people lie to me so much?

Forgive the ones who lie and deceive you.

Can you distinguish between the times when you ask for permission and the times you need to act?

Have you ever been godly in a way others couldn't comprehend?

Have you ever felt God lifting your eyes to Him?

Does your church's worship entertain or involve you?

Are you excited that Jesus wore the character traits He did?

Hope and history won't rhyme.

Have you stood in wonder over the true meaning of Christmas?

Without Jesus, Christmas is an empty celebration.

There was never a time when Jesus didn't exist and there will never be a time when He ceases to exist.

Do you ever pray when you're looking at your pastor?

Jesus left the Hallelujahs of Heaven for the hisses of humans on Earth.

Are you still excited about Jesus and His Word?

After believers die, they'll be more alive than they've ever been.

Without Jesus as my Savior, there is a great chasm between where I reach and where God is.

Put your trust in the only one who truly measures up.

Think as narrowly as the Bible teaches.

Jesus' infinite character gives Him power to die for every person.

Don't sacrifice the quality of your life because you fear death.

Having faith in Jesus Christ is the antithesis of fear death.

Jesus came to deliver us from the fear of death.

Jesus came down so we could go up.

Is God still speaking to you?  Are you still listening?

God doesn't want you to simply admire or acknowledge Jesus Christ.  He wants you to receive Him.

All of your friends are important.

Make a tradition of reading the Christmas story every Christmas.

The census that Joseph and Mary participated in was the first census the Romans impressed on Palestine.

Make more room in your life for Christ.

If you want to be a minister, you must devote your life to Christ and prayer.

Do you understand where your heart must be if you are to experience God?

Is your heart like the humble shepherds' or the adamant innkeepers'?

Are you excited about Jesus like a child is excited to open gifts on Christmas?

There is only one well that never ends.

Jesus hasn't promised us political or international peace, but inner peace.

I wonder if we'd have international peace if more people had inner peace.

God's inner peace exists while there seems to be chaos in the world.

Is your pastor afraid to say what God tells Him?

It's the humble, meek heart that experiences the peace the Savior brought.

Pray that you never forget the meaning of Christmas.

Analyze the way God brought Jesus into the world.

God can communicate to people through dreams and visions.

God has a supernatural purpose for you.

There's only room in my life for one king.

Simply going to church isn't good enough.

God wants you to submit every second of your life to Him.

You need God every hour because the powers of darkness are tempting you every hour.

You can't intellectualize God out of existence.  You can only will Him out of your heart.

Are your prayers a sweet fragrance or are they making God cough and choke?

Have you hated evil, lately?

Myrrh was brought to Jesus' birth because He was born to die.

If you want to follow Christ, you must give your life to Him.

The nicest city on Earth is the ghetto in Heaven.

The answer to life is probably on your bookshelf.

After you die, God's not gonna wanna know who you bought gifts for.  He'll want to know if you've accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

What God has for us is better than what we have now.

Can you be patient and strong in the silences of life?

Every relationship needs God if it's going to work.

Is your Father involved in your work?

It's not a good witness or example to sleep alone with a person of the opposite sex (unless you're married).

A wonderful thing about being a Christian is this: the whole world can be falling apart and coming undone, but we can stand secure in Christ and be joyful and peaceful, knowing it will get better.

Without the spiritual world, I'd be really bored.

Experience lends a lot to understanding.

Any time we speak scriptures, we are speaking God's words.

We should be ready to help people every day.

Just because I see others afflicted, it doesn't mean I have to afflict myself.

If you found five people that would sing praises all night, you'd have to show them to me because I haven't seen them.

Where are all the people who eat, drink and sleep God?

Some things that are said are meant to be heard by the speaker.

Do you have any desire to chew on wisdom and try and fathom the things that make our heads spin?

After loving God and others, pursuing wisdom is one of our highest priorities.

I'd love to become more like God by repenting from something you see in me.         

Do you know how to jog your memory?

What's better than doing God's work and doing what He wants?

These quotes came from God, me, the Inspirational Study Bible (with Max Lucado), Bono, Dr. David Jeremiah, David St. John and Miles McPhearson.

These quotes can be used for sanctification and fun.  Most of them are directly based on scripture and scriptural principles.  Some of my quotes are humorous or rhetorical.  Some are written from sermons and Bible studies.  Others are lyrics from songs.  If you'd like me to go into more detail on any of them, please email me.

Like most verses in the Bible, they can be debated.  To use what I have written in the most beneficial way, try and trace them back to the scriptures they were derived from and apply the true principles to your life in a meaningful way!  Please don't sell my quotes or publish them for profit.  If English is not your first language, you may not understand some of the quotes.  I'm sorry, but some of them are English metaphors and deal with multiple word meanings.  God bless you all!  

Please make a commitment to pray for this ministry.  As every believer is tempted and tried, this ministry faces trials also.  God has blessed me, JCSM and the people who have been reached!  Unfortunately, the enemy knows this and spiritual warfare is the result.  Please, at least pray that the devotions continue to be sent religiously, the web pages stay on the www and the subscribers are blessed, sanctified and protected from evil.  Thank you very much in advance!

Do you want to help people receive the good news?  We have sent over 500,000 emails, encouraging people with God's Word!  Please join us in the great commission.  We're reaching new people every day with God's awesome Word!  If God has blessed you and you wish to send a love offering to me and my ministry, please send it to the address below.

Oceanside, Ca   92054

You can join our vision and help this ministry!  Your donations will keep these ministries running and further our visions for evangelism.  Hundreds of web pages have been created to lead people to the Lord.  Frequently, we make new ones and they are used to bring more and more people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.  We're certain there will be more ways to reach people in the future.  Along with getting support, we also give support!  I regularly give to my church and frequently give to needy people.  Lastly, I do a lot of research on religious topics on the internet and library.  You will definitely see the results of our work and your support, in the web pages, and in the weekly devotional messages!

For more about me and my service history, go to http://resume.jcsm.org.  For what I do, my ministries and giving, go to http://vision.jcsm.org

If you have received these devotions from someone other than I, please email me and I will send them to you, personally, each week.  Don't worry.  I don't send forwards or any other junk mail.  I also refrain from giving your name to anyone.  

The devotions are sent on Monday nights.  The gospel is sent on the 11th of every month and the monthly newsletter is sent on the 20th.  These are the only messages I send, however, please email me if you wish to be removed from this list.  If you prefer to receive the devotions in Spanish, send me a request because the devotions have been reaching the Spanish speaking community for over a year!

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please email me!  I would love to share the gospel with you.  The Bible is very straightforward when it speaks about Heaven, Hell and eternal life.  If there is any doubt that you are going to Heaven when you die, please let me know today!

Are you having trouble in life?  Do you need someone to talk to?  You can call the youth crisis hotline at 1-800-HIT-HOME, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  I'm currently volunteering time for this hotline. Our motto is "help, not hassle".  We will listen to you and encourage you.  If you are hurting and need someone to talk to, please feel free to call.  YDI pays for these calls and has helped over 1 million people!  They are also looking for people to answer calls.  Their web site is at www.1800hithome.com

Would you like to feed starving people by simply clicking a button and paying absolutely nothing?  Sponsors pay to donate food to hungry people all over the world.  I click these nearly every day.  It takes about 10 seconds and it donates food to needy people!  Go here: www.thehungersite.com and here www.stopthehunger.com

JCSM now does regular mailings!  If you are getting rid of your email or know someone who wants the devotions, but doesn't have email, please give me their address and we'll send them the devotions.  If you don't have internet access, but want to read a certain web page or Bible lesson, let me know.  I could copy and paste something into an email message for you.

 Since April of 1997, the weekly devotional message has been sent on the internet.   This message currently reaches 7670 people in 98 countries.  To read a list of these countries, go here: http://www.jcsm.org/misc/countries.htm.  To read the archived devotions online, go here: http://devos.jcsm.org.  

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

Over 1500 links!

http://www.jcsm.org