This is the Weekly Devotional Message from

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

www.JCSM.org

Over 1500 Links!

Hello!

We're giving away free turkeys to the first twenty people to respond to this message. Just kidding. Turkey.

Thank you for emailing me some wedding ideas. They were very interesting and I forwarded them to Sarine. If you have any more suggestions, feel free to send them to me. We're very excited and looking forward to premarital counseling and life together.

Please pray for my soccer team. I'm still coaching the Santa Fe Christian, middle school boys. We're 3-0-1 and having a great season! I hope they don't get injured, continue playing really well, have fun and glorify God with their talents.

You may have heard about the fires in San Diego. They were in East County and raged for several days. Thankfully, they were in a very rural part of town, so they didn't burn many houses or businesses. I live in Oceanside (North County), so they were far from me. However, we had a soccer game, in Coronado, canceled due to air quality. Apparently, ash was falling from the sky like snow. I had never had a game canceled for this reason. Please pray that the land, homes and buildings are restored quickly.

Recently, I received a Disciple's Handbook from the Churches of Christ (Boston Movement). If you'd like to know what it says, please let me know. I've been examining it against the scriptures and would love to either reveal what it says or debate someone who wishes to defend it. I'm corresponding with one of their leaders, via email, so pray that they see the light and understand why some of their doctrines are unhealthy and dangerous.

This week, God laid the subject of obesity on my heart. In the United States, hundreds of thousands of people suffer from it. It is also the second leading cause of preventable death. Please pray for obese people and refrain from teasing them. I've made a research paper on obesity and you can find it here: http://www.jcsm.org/Contents/Obesity.htm

Are you using WebTV and having difficulty reading these devotions? Please let me know and I will try and correct any problems.

Have you lost or accidentally deleted a "dll" file? You can download it here: http://solo.abac.com/dllarchive/S.html

If you need any prayer or counseling, please let me know. I love encouraging people on the web. I simply believe we should help people overcome their temptations. I'd love to pray for you and find some scriptures that can help you in your trials.

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 40,073 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: "Our Life Needs One God"

Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me."

Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one andI despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

1 Timothy 2:5, 6a "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all."

Mark 12:29, 30 "Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment."

Prayer: "Thank you for wanting us to have one God in our life. Praise You for being that awesome God! Forgive us for putting other gods in front of You, Lord. Remind us how awesome You are and how unworthy the other gods are. Give us the strength, self-control and discipline to put You first. Thank you for blessing us so much when we seek and obey You! There's no other God like You in all of the universe. Give us more faith in You and more love for You and others. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 2: "Don't Worry"

Luke 12:22-31 "Then He said to His disciples, Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."

Prayer: "Thanks for reminding us not to worry, Lord. Help us to trust You and remember your sovereignty. Thank you for always being in control. Thank you for helping us through this life. Praise You for knowing what is best and doing it. Help us to let go and let God. Thank you for being wiser than we are. Thank you for being more worthy of control than we are. Let us trust You, deeply. Remove our worries and our fears. Help us to look up and be joyful, even if we aren't in control. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 3: "Don't Go Back!"

Luke 9:59-62 "Then He said to another, Follow Me. But he said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house. But Jesus said to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Revelation 3:15-21 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

Prayer: "Thank you for warning us about being lukewarm and returning to our foolish ways. Forgive us for our sins, Lord. Help us to see what is best and do it. Thank you for giving us your Word. Let us read and apply it, daily. Thank you for giving us many opportunities to obey, worship and serve You. Let us take advantage of them. If or when we walk off the path, help us to return quickly. Thank you for making the Christian life so awesome and interesting! Let us take steps of faith and see You clearer each day. Praise You for giving us your Spirit and never leaving us. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 4: "The Great, Spiritual Battle"

Ephesians 6:12-18 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

Prayer: "Thank you for equipping us for our spiritual battles. Thank you for giving us the qualities we need to survive and succeed on Earth. Thank you for revealing to us the nature of the battle we are in. Remind us that we are fighting against unseen powers. Praise You for being more powerful than them. Give us your power, so we may overcome evil. Thank you for overcoming the world and making us more than conquerors! To You be all the glory, honor and praise! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 5: "Lift Your Hands"

Psalm 28:2 "Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary."

Psalm 63:4 "Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name."

Psalm 119:48 "My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes."

Psalm 134:2 "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the LORD."

Lamentations 3:41 "Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven."

1 Timothy 2:8 "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."

Prayer: "Thank you for wanting us to surrender to You, Lord. Thank you for molding us and using us. Praise You for wanting to use us, even though we are imperfect. Let us raise our hands to You. Thank you for stirring up your Spirit inside of us when we lay ourselves at your feet. Thank you for lifting us up, too. Help the shy people to be courageous and worship You with their arms lifted high! Thank you for meeting us where we are and taking us where You want us to be. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 6: "We're All Ministers"

1 Corinthians 3:8 ,9 "Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building."

1 Corinthians 12:27, 28 "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues."

2 Timothy 4:2-5 "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

1 Peter 5:2-4 "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."

Romans 12:4-8 "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."

Prayer: "Thank you for giving each person a ministry. Help us to do our best with it. Help us to love You first and be genuine Christians. Thank you for encouraging us and helping us to grow, spiritually. Lift up the believers and remind them that their ministry includes their circles of influence. Purify us, Lord. Reveal our sins to us and help us to repent. Thank you for having patience, mercy and grace with us. Remind us that people are watching us and these people need more of You, not more of the world. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 7: "A Good Steward"

1 Corinthians 4:1, 2 "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."

Matthew 25:45-47 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods."

Matthew 25:20-30 "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us talents and gifts, Lord. Let us use them for your glory and your kingdom. Thank you for giving us awesome things. Help us to see them as yours. Remind us that earthly gain will be worthless when we die. Let us desire eternal rewards. Let us love others and use what we have to build them. Thank you for being such a good God and giving us a great example to follow. Help us to be like Jesus. Thank you for showing us how He lived. Give us joy as we follow Christ! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Challenges

1) Pick an area of your life that isn't surrendered to God and give Him Lordship.

Do you watch too much tv? Are you eating too much chocolate? Are you neglecting to pray? Are you stealing office supplies? I obviously don't know your specific need, but we all need to grow. Find a way to grow spiritually and draw closer to God. Repent from something, this week, and experience the joy of a closer relationship with God.

2) List your skills and abilities. Ask God how you can use them for Him.

A Moment of Introspection

Can anyone tell you're a Christian? Is Jesus really the Lord of your life? If being a Christian was a crime, is there enough evidence to convict you?

Forgive me if I'm "preaching to the choir". Perhaps you are living a sold-out, wholehearted life for Christ. If so, praise the Lord and keep up the great work! If you aren't, keep reading.

Christians shouldn't be like the world. We have been set apart and called out of the world. We are spiritually alive and unbelievers are spiritually dead. There should be huge differences between us and them.

We pray, read the Bible, follow Christ, tithe at church, etc. We defend the truth of the gospel. Christians love everyone and forgive early and often.

Nearly all of the qualities of a Christian go against the world's way of thinking. God's philosophy is simply better and more perfect. If you've been living according to the world's philosophy, you must be getting worn out. Please pray and return to the safety and wonder of God's love. Life with God is extraordinary and supernatural. Don't settle for a lukewarm, boring, worldly life. God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

Quotations

Do you sense God's Holy presence living in you?

Satan will try and make you give less, work less and do worse quality work than God desires.

Try and get along with other believers.

Do you enjoy letting God work through you?

God is bigger than my imagination.

Are you doing what you want or what God wants with your (His) resources?

If you are a believer in Christ, you are one of His stewards.

Is Jesus really the Lord of your life?

Pick an area of your life that isn't surrendered to God and give Him Lordship.

How many of your hopes and dreams are yours and not God's?

If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, He will be your judge.

Is your stomach, your education, your connections or Jesus your God?

Is there anything or anyone in competition with God, today?

Wake up and surrender your heart to God.

People have stress and anxiety in their lives when they are at war with God.

Don't let any sermon slip away from you without making a difference in your heart, mind and life.

God put all the controls that keep us alive in a place where we can't get to them (in the brain stem).

God makes your heart beat.

Realizing God's sovereignty chases your worries away.

Worrying is like telling God you doubt He is in control and can help you.

God is a light to our feet. He doesn't always reveal the whole path. Take steps and you'll see more of the path.

If you want to be a good steward, you must listen to what God wants and do it.

Be faithful to God, even when you don't know what the outcome of your action will be.

You have to accept the commandments and direction of God.

Many Christians simply need to do what they know.

Don't accept sin in your life and excuse it by saying, "it's just the way I am."

You won't always see all the benefits of obeying God.

Is your obedience to God season or occasional?

List your skills and abilities. Ask God how you can use them for Him.

If you don't know all your spiritual gifts, how can you use them and perfect them?

One day, will Jesus ask you why you didn't use your spiritual gifts?

Can God trust you?

Right now, there are blessings we don't have because God doesn't trust us.

We have blessings, now, that we weren't mature enough to handle last year.

God wants to build His kingdom His way.

God has many more plans for you than filling a seat in church.

If you say you'll do something, you should do it.

Do you love to listen?

Lust demands. Love understands.

Notice how you take advice.

Fear is contagious.

It's amazing what a little love can do.

When you're walking with God, people either get on your side or they get away from you.

Prayer is the door to Heaven and faith in Jesus is the key.

After salvation, God looks at you and sees a righteous person.

Heaven's view of you has changed and now your view of everything can change.

Don't pray simply to fulfill a duty. Pray because you need help from God every day.

Just like plants need water and sun, we need good and bad times to grow.

What's holding you down?

God wants you to be fresher than Yoda with the force.

If you were to write an autobiography, what would be 10 chapter titles?

He's on your side to help you, not hold you back.

List the sins God has forgiven in your life.

List 10 things you appreciate most about God.

The application of Jesus' teachings will revolutionize any life, marriage, family and single person's household.

If the Bible cannot be understood, then either God did not want us to understand or He wasn't powerful enough to make us understand it.

Without understanding and responding to God's message, we cannot go to Heaven.

When you face spiritual battles, fight or run, but don't give in.

Don't let fear overpower you.

Have you ever been paralyzed by fear?

Aren't all phobias just fear of the unknown?

Hate sinful fear.

Distinguish between holy fear and sinful fear.

Fear is an obstacle to faith because it challenges obedience.

Keep God's desires in mind when you make decisions.

Obedience gives faith life.

We have petty insecurities that keep us from obeying God.

Don't let the devil penetrate your heart.

No matter how imposing your concerns and worries may be, commit them to the Lord.

Don't pull yourself out of God's will because of your fears.

There are people you pray for God to use because they seem usable. There are also people who seem like they could never be used by God. I was one of those people.

God changing my life is nothing short of miraculous.

I couldn't love or even like people without the love of Jesus in my heart.

Don't listen to fear.

God didn't die for us so we could return to our slavery to sin.

Move on your own will or God will move you.

You can't be afraid of what your friends or family may think.

What do you do when your faith is challenged?

Many things God says are a question of "when" they will happen, not "if" they will happen.

Begin a conversation, today, by telling someone how God is working in your life.

How can you expect to experience God's promises when you aren't faithful to Him?

Fear of men becomes a snare.

Fear can kill you.

Being a Christian isn't simply about feeling good.

What are you doing to help your peers break the chains of sin?

We're not only called to be prosperous, but we're also called to set the captives free and make disciples.

Some Christians are afraid what their saved friends will think if they take a step of faith.

Fear will take you to the worst case scenario while faith will take you to the best case scenario.

If you fight your fears, life will be better than you think.

Do daily stresses cause you to doubt the power of God?

Will fear or faith guide your decisions?

Guard your heart against the external influences that attack your faith.

It is easier to be a martyr for Christ than to live a lifetime of Christianity.

It feels wonderful to be loved by You.

Much of the research I do will benefit me just as much or more than others.

Just thinking about you puts a smile on my face.

With you in my life, there won't be a day when I'm not excited.

Every walk demands a first step.

Changes in life invite growth.

If you live with no changes, will you have a chance to grow?

Sometimes people misuse privileges so much that rules are made that hurt the lawful people.

With God's help, I'll take great care of you.

Without God, even our best attempt to love would be selfish.

How you handle yourself and a task says something about you.

These quotes came from God, me, the Inspirational Study Bible (with Max Lucado), Steven Boyle, Jason Broome, Kevin Bowers 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.

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

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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. Their motto is "help, not hassle". Hotline counselors 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

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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 9206 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.

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