This is the Weekly Devotional Message from

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

www.JCSM.org

Over 1500 Links!

Hello!

Do you have any ideas JCSM could use? We welcome your feedback. This ministry is constantly growing and getting fresh inspiration from God.

Visit the JCSM web site! There are so many awesome things to see and do there. Just click the link above. Share it with a friend, too!

A new web site was added this week. It's called Stunning Sea Life. At the gym, I was reading a diving magazine and noticed the beautiful and incredible sea life! It reminded me of my snorkeling trips. This site has links to incredible pictures, great information and more cool stuff. Just go here: http://www.jcsm.org/Contents/StunningSeaLife.htm

Important Announcement: I'll be sending you a special message on Thursday. I'm asking everyone who wants to continue receiving the devotions to simply respond and add their name to my List Bot mailing list. I'll email you the complete instructions, so it will be easy and take only a minute. If you want the devotions, please don't forget to respond!

I pray that you're having a great week. This internet ministry is challenging and exhausting, but very worthwhile. There's nothing like helping God's saints grow spiritually! I'm praying for you and here for you if you need me. Congratulations on your spiritual growth!

In the United States, yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It was a national holiday because Rev. King did so much for civil rights. Praise God for him and how he stood for godly values! You can read his sermons, speeches and more, here: http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/

This week we're adding a Bible Trivia Question to the devotional messages! If you wish, you can email me the answer. Each devotional message will have a new trivia question and the answer from last week's question. Happy trivia-matizing. : )

This is your ministry, so please feel free to forward these devotions to your friends and family. On the JCSM website, there are over 1500 links (pictures, midis, Bible lessons, humor, proverbial stories, links, devotions, poetry, prayer journals and much more!) and it has registered over 40,383 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, Bible trivia question and 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: "Don't Ask Astrology"

Deuteronomy 18:14 "For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do."

Leviticus 19:31 "Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God."

Micah 5:12 "I will cut off sorceries from your hand, And you shall have no soothsayers."

Isaiah 8:19, 20 "And when they say to you, 'Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,' should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

Isaiah 47:13-15 "You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, And the monthly prognosticators Stand up and save you From what shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble, The fire shall burn them; They shall not deliver themselves From the power of the flame; It shall not be a coal to be warmed by, Nor a fire to sit before! Thus shall they be to you With whom you have labored, Your merchants from your youth; They shall wander each one to his quarter. No one shall save you."

Prayer: "Thank you for warning us about using astrology. Forgive the ones who have used it either for fun or for seriously trying to determine things. Thank you for being in total control. Help us to trust You more, Lord. Give us more faith in You! Praise You for being a good God and having our best interest in mind. Thank you for wanting us to have faith and making this life an adventure by not telling us everything. Let us be content with what You want us to know. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 2: "Be A Godly Example"

1 Timothy 6:6 "Now godliness with contentment is great gain."

Joshua 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

Ephesians 5:1, 2 "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

Ephesians 4:31, 32 "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."

1 Peter 1:21, 22 "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 'Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth.'"

Prayer: "Thank you for wanting us to be godly. Thank you for telling us how we can be like You. Purify us and let us see You, Lord. Let us be godly examples. Help us to desire godliness and have You as the standard. Forgive us for being complacent or for trying to be like another human. Help us to strive for godliness. Thank you for changing us. There's no other God like You! Thank you for having patience with us, too. Help us to run this race to win. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 3: "Leave Fools Alone"

Proverb 14:7 "Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge."

Proverb 17:12 "Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly."

Titus 3:10, 11 "Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned."

Psalm 1 "Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us godly friends and mentors. Thank you for giving us your Word, too. Help us to stay away from fools and unrepentant sinners. Thank you for giving us wisdom. Give us more, Lord. Protect us from evil. Show us how spending time with fools and sinners can not only damage our character, but can cause us to sin. Thank you for wanting us to walk the narrow road to You. Give us self-control and discipline. To You be all the glory, honor and praise. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 4: "A Different World"

John 18:36 "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.'"

John 8:23 "And He said to them, 'You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.'"

John 15:19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

John 12:25 "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

1 Corinthians 1:20 "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"

Prayer: "Thank you for being from Heaven, Lord. Thank you for pulling us out of this world. Remind us that we should not conform to this world's demands. Show us how to be, Lord. Thank you for giving us a high calling and a holy agenda! Thank you for giving us something awesome and challenging. Remind us that we have eternal life and we're on the road to Heaven! Praise You for creating an awesome place for us. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 5: "Purify Yourselves"

Genesis 35:2 "And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments."

1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

Titus 2:11, 12 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age."

1 Peter 1:15, 16 "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'"

Galatians 5:25 "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Prayer: "Thank you for wanting us to be pure. Show us the value of purity. Thank you for being a pure and holy God. Remind us that You don't think sin is funny or helpful. Reveal to us where we should repent, Lord. Mold us because we are Your clay. Thank you for being faithful to us and never being silent. Help us to listen to You and obey You. Praise You for knowing so much and being strong enough to tell us what we need to hear. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 6: "Pray For Faith"

1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

Luke 17:5 "And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.'"

Matthew 21:21 "So Jesus answered and said to them, Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done."

John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Prayer: "Thank you for helping us have faith in You, Lord. Thank you for being a God of promises! You have kept your promises since time began. Praise You for being so awesome! Increase our faith, Lord. Thank you for meeting us where we are and taking us where You want us to be. Lift us up and keep our feet on the Rock. Let us trust You more. Help us take leaps of faith! Thank you for always rewarding our faith. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 7: "God is Faithful"

Hebrews 13:5, 6 "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say: The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

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

1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

2 Thessalonians 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one."

Prayer: "Thank you for being a faithful God! Thank you for protecting us from the evil one. Remind us that You never leave. Thank you for being consistent and true. Help us to be faithful like You are. Thank you for never giving up on us. Please keep knocking on the door of our heart. Praise You for having a great plan and sticking with it. Thank you for always listening to our prayers! There's no other God like You. Thank you for loving us more than we can comprehend. To You be all the glory, honor and praise, forever and ever! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Challenge

Read a chapter a day from the book of Proverbs. There are 31 chapters. Bring a Bible and put it on your car and your workplace. Inevitably, there will be a time when you must wait and when it arrives, you can read your chapter for the day! God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

A Moment of Introspection

Have you ever been to a church service where people are singing praise songs during worship?

Worship is such an important part of life and church. It's not a spectator sport, either. We should be participating.

Worship is when we can take our mind off the troubles of this world. We can sing and give them to God. He wants to lift us up and change our heart, but we have to obey Him by singing His praises with all our heart.

Sunday, I was really blessed to be in an awesome worship service at The Rock Church! The band is incredible and they played great songs that I knew. Worshiping God was such a great release!

I believe it's possible to bring a lifestyle of worship into a church and encourage the entire place! On the contrary, bringing a long face, staring at your watch, reading the bulletin and/or making faces could bring down the place.

I pray that you have great times of worship! God is awesome and He has a plan for us. Worship is an integral part of His plan.

Last night, I wrote a simple worship song. Here it is:

The January Praise Song

1-15-01 (MLK Day)

Intro:

Pick G note, strum G (stroke down, up, up, down)

Pick C note, strum C ( stroke down, up, up, down)

Pick G note, strum G (stroke down, up, up, down)

Pick C note, then pick strings: E, D, G, B

(Repeat)

Verse: (Play each stanza twice)

G.........................D.............A...........C (lift off)

We praise Your name and lift You up

G.........................D.............G (G/C, G/C)

We praise Your name, O Lord

You're our friend and You're our God

You're our faithful friend

There's no love, like Your love

There's no love like You

Fill us up with power and strength

Fill us up right now

The Bible Trivia Question

Who were the only two men who never died?

Quotations

I forget why I'm so excited, but I am!

Memorizing scripture won't save you; only accepting Christ will.

You can steal from God by not giving to God.

If you're not working when you are supposed to be working, you're stealing from your employer.

Don't have adulterous relationships with people in your mind.

We have to be right with God and right with people.

Try looking at things from another angle.

Physical circumcision doesn't grant spiritual life.

Do you feel spiritually alive?

Do you know yourself, yet?

Cultivate hate for the devil.

If you listen closely enough, you'll hear the things that aren't being said.

Christ could have died any way He wanted.

We need to know what to keep and what to release.

If we choose to live by God's standards, we will be righteous.

If we choose to live by our own standards, we will be wicked and face God's wrath.

Go to a church service where people are singing praise songs during worship.

Everything the devil does is for your demise, but everything God does is for your benefit.

Remember that the demons are targeting you.

Are you disappointed when the worship ends?

God fulfills His promises by blessing you during difficult circumstances.

Everyone can get into a place where they can be used by God.

We are merely managers of God's things.

Don't tell God "no" when he wants you to do things.

Ask God when and where you should use your (His) resources.

God has lent you everything; even your body.

If you can't trust God, you can't manage God's things in the best way.

God hasn't called you to be like the world.

Our concept of God must be more than what we hear or experience in church.

God is bigger and stronger than the biggest, strongest thing we can imagine.

Rejoice if you haven't messed up and you're not being punished.

Do you trust that the God you pray to is the God of the Bible?

If you can't think of any sins that you need to confess, consider all your relationships in the last year.

Do you know the promises of God? Do you trust them?

The degree of your trust in the promises of God will be shown by the degree of your faith-filled actions.

Keep praying and dreaming.

Write down what God tells you to do.

Trusting God removes worry, stress and anxiety.

If you always trust God, you'll never worry.

If God doesn't want something for you, you shouldn't want it either.

When do you start following God? When you get things or lose things?

The more you trust God's economics, the more you will give to Him.

God has more money than you'll ever have.

If you don't believe, you won't do it and if you don't do it, you'll be disqualified from a blessing.

Every person who tithes and gives to the Lord sees supernatural blessings and income.

Pray fervently for your needs.

Pick an area in your life where you don't trust God and trust Him.

Getting married could revolutionize the way you look at women.

To be a great coach or teacher, you have to know how to motivate people.

Sinning can prolong the time it takes to grow.

I rather be martyred on the road to Heaven than be butchered in my conscious.

Unfortunately, just like some people, some pastors don't articulate well.

It's our own choice whether you go to Heaven or to Hell.

God doesn't condemn himself, man does.

Don't forget that we are saints.

We need to understand who we are in Christ.

If God forgot my sins, why do you remember it?

The nature of man is jealousy.

We're the forerunners on this earth preparing the way for Jesus' second coming.

A servant should never envy, but should be content.

He who does not believe in God shall have the wrath of God upon him.

One day we will give an account to what we invest in weather it be gold, silver, wood, hay or people.

The more I learn, the more I see how much I need to know.

True wisdom makes God foundational.

Wisdom promises security.

Love is the base of everything.

Isn't it easier to die as a martyr than to live a lifetime of Christianity?

Look around and be distressed, look within and be depressed, look at Jesus and be at rest.

If God gave us favors without constraining us to pray for them, we should never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty. While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human

emptiness.

When the Bible is used, the devil is not amused.

How can God steer a parked car?

Some people think that God does not like to be troubled with our constant asking. The way to trouble God is to not ask at all.

We see God's beauty when we look at His beautiful creation.

Ask God and yourself what you really need when you think you need something harmful.

Analyze when and why you have certain urges.

Recognize the things that make you anxious.

God doesn't want His people knowing the future from humans or human philosophies.

God will punish the astrologers and people who listen to them.

It's sad to see people trying to use the scriptures to support unbiblical viewpoints.

These quotes came from God, me, the Inspirational Study Bible (with Max Lucado), D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Corrie Ten Boom, Dennis Morales 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

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. 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 9311 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

http://www.jcsm.org

Over 1500 links!