This is the Weekly Devotional Message from

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

www.JCSM.org

Over 1500 Links!

Hello!

Are you ready for an encouraging message?

The presidential inauguration was last weekend.  George W. Bush is officially the president of the United States, now!  Let's pray that he does a fantastic job.  He's already removed international funding of abortion consultation and promotion.

The movie Left Behind is coming to the theaters on February 2nd!  You can see a list of theaters and locations here: http://www.leftbehind-themovie.com.  Let's pray that this movie touches lots of believers and unbelievers!  I've seen it and it's an interesting story about how the end could happen.

Would you like a very simple way to be encouraged each day?  My friend, Anne, sends some friends a daily Bible verse.  There's no commentaries, no salutations and no ads.  If you'd like this in your mailbox, please email AnneHathaway1582@aol.com.

Would you like to meet me in my chat room time for prayer and conversation?  Simply let me know the time and date you are available.  I'll visit my chat room, periodically, anyway.  The address is http://pub2.bravenet.com/chat/show.php?usernum=116813548

Recently, I began a new Bible study.  I'm doing one of the "Life Lessons" studies by Max Lucado.  Sarine is doing it with me and enjoying it, too.  Please pray that we grow spiritually as we study the book of 1 Corinthians!

Would you like to submit a web site to 65 search engines or 1500 FFA sites?  You can do it, for free, here: http://www.global.gr/mtools/linkstation

I've recorded my first cd!  Praise the Lord!  I recorded me singing and playing guitar with a drum machine.  I have 11 songs on disc and will be adding one more.  This cd is a demo and it was made to give to my other band members and my Mom for her birthday.  

This week, my band and I will be auditioning a drummer.  Please pray that it goes well and we continue making music that glorifies God.  If we play in front of huge crowds, that is great, but if we don't, we're going to enjoy glorifying God on our own!  Please pray for direction and doors to open, too.

Please let me know about any broken links on my site.  This second sentence is just because you shouldn't have a paragraph with one sentence in it.  K?   : )

I'm thankful for the chance to send you these devotions!  I'm praying for your spiritual growth and sanctification.  Keep loving the Lord!

Do you like Audio Adrenaline?  They're releasing a greatest hits album, soon.  You can hear one of their new clips, One Like You, here: http://www.forefrontrecords.com

Would you like to read about Christianity in other countries?  At JCSM, we have reports from 16 other countries.  If yours is not listed, please send us one!  The International Christians site is here: http://www.jcsm.org/InternationalChristians.htm

This is your ministry, so please feel free to link to JCSM and 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 40,000 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, the Bible trivia question, last week's answer 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:   "Rejoice in the Lord!"

Psalm 33:1   "Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!  For praise from the upright is beautiful."

Psalm 97:12   "Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name."

Isaiah 61:10, 11   "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."

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

Prayer:   "Thanks for wanting us to rejoice, Lord! Help us to be joyful and excited about You and this life. Let us see things like You do. Help us to see past our problems. Thank you for putting joy in our heart. Remove our worries and fears. Help us to be light-hearted. Thank you for being faithful to us and loving us so much. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 2:   "We'll See Him"

John 16:16   "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."

1 Corinthians 13:12   "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

1 John 3:2   "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

Revelation 1:7   "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.  And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.  Even so, Amen."

Prayer:   "Thank you for promising us that we will see You, Lord! Give us perseverance as we live on Earth. Thank you for promising us eternal life with You. Help us to remember your promises. Help us to be encouraged by your words. Lift us up and remind us that You will judge the world one day. Thank you for making a difference in our life. Increase our faith in You and help us to see You, now. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 3:   "Positive Childlike Qualities"

Psalm 71:17   "O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works."

Proverb 23:24   "The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise child will delight in him."

Matthew 18:3, 4   "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Psalm 71:5   "For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth."

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."

Prayer:   "Thank you for all of the great qualities that children can have. Help us to have them, too. Give us faithfulness, humility, purity, love and wisdom. Help us to not look down on children, but let us encourage them. Thank you for the people who encouraged us when we were younger. Bless us all, Lord. Let us be like You. Thank you for offering salvation to the young and the old ones. You are a great God. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 4:   "What Does Love Do?"

1 Corinthians 13:4-8   "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.  But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."

1 Peter 4:8   "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'"

John 15:13   "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

1 John 3:16   "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Prayer:   "Thank you for teaching us about love, Lord. Thank you for being the perfect example of love! There is no other love like Yours. Thank you for loving us more than we could imagine. Help us to love like You do. Help us to lay our life down for our friends. Thank you for blessing us when we obey You. Remind us that obeying You should be our priority. Thank you for changing us and teaching us how to love. Remind us that we can live like new people and we don't have to only love a little, even if that's what we're used to doing. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 5:   "Meditate on God's Word"

Joshua 1:8   "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Psalm 63:6   "When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches."

Psalm 77:6, 12   "I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search.  I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds."

Psalm 119:15, 48, 148   "I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.  My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes.  My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word."

Philippians 4:8   "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."

Prayer:   "Thank you for giving us awesome things to meditate on! Remind us of the power of your Word. Help us to have self-control and make times of meditation. Thank you for teaching us so much when we take the time to read, meditate and learn. Remind us that we need to chew on the deeper principles of your Word. Give us wisdom and knowledge. Help us to grow and know You more. Thank you for answering our prayers. Let us enjoy our times of meditation. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 6:   "The Limits of Human Wisdom"

Jeremiah 9:23, 24   "Thus says the LORD: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth."

Proverb 3:7   "Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil."

Ecclesiastes 1:18   "For in much (earthly) wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow."

Matthew 11:25   "At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.'"

1 Corinthians 3:19, 20   "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their own craftiness'; and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

Prayer:   "Thank you for making us truly wise. Thank you for forgiving our foolishness and lifting us up. Remind us that there is a big difference between earthly and godly wisdom. Help us to seek your wisdom from You and godly people. Forgive us for taking bad advice and seeking wisdom through faulty sources. Thank you for giving us so many proverbs in the Bible. Help us to read them and apply them. Thank you for the way your wisdom satisfies and helps us. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 7:   "Help the Homeless"

Deuteronomy 15:11   "For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.'"

Leviticus 25:35   "If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you."

Proverb 14:31   "He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy."

Proverb 31:9   "Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy."

Luke 14:13, 14   "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.  And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

Hebrews 13:2 "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."

Romans 15:26, 27   "For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.  It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors.  For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things."

Prayer:   "Thank you for wanting us to help the needy and homeless. Forgive us for neglecting them. Help us to put aside food and clothes, so we can give to them. Thank you for the opportunities we have to give. Let us take advantage of them. Give us the courage and boldness to do whatever it takes to help homeless and poor people. Thank you for blessing us when we do. Thank you for revealing to us that some of the strangers in this world are actually angels! Let us love everyone and not let our love be contingent on anything. Help us to put aside our pride and fear. Let us serve You and others, Lord. To You be all the glory, honor and praise, forever and ever! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Challenge

Write three things that you have not been faithful in.  Pray to God to be faithful in those areas.  Meditate on how you can do this.  God will give you help!  God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

The Bible Trivia Question

What does "koinonia" mean?

Last Week's Bible Trivia Answer

Elijah and Enoch are the only two people that never died.  Thanks for sending me your answers.  Moses and Ezekiel were popular guesses.  (See 2 Kings 2:11 and Genesis 5:24 for the answers.)

Quotations

Isn't our wisdom limited to what we can comprehend?

Earthly wisdom is limited to a lifetime or at most, an earthly existence.

The world's wisdom is selfish and short-sighted.

God's wisdom is based on love, others and eternity.

The "simple" things are often more awesome and beautiful than complicated things.

When the people who seem weak to the world have God's power, they become stronger than the ones that the world sees as strong.

The world glorifies and sugar coats bad things.

If we'll listen, there's no way we won't hear God's voice.

Don't be afraid to call lies what they are.

Pray for strength to choose the timeless truths of God's Word over fleeting promises from the world.

Continue listening to God and ignoring contrary messages and messengers.

Pray for wisdom and read Proverbs.

God has the best wisdom.

We need to seek wisdom from God and godly people.

Biblical teachings bring peace in your spirit and worldly ones bring tension.

Godly teachings correlate with God's Word and worldly ones contradict it.

Some of the benefits of living according to God's wisdom are protection, true wisdom, success, eternal rewards, blessings, joy, godliness, peace and life.

God keeps some things hidden from us because we're either not ready to know, we're not supposed to know or we don't deserve to know.

We can know God's plans and thoughts by reading His Word, praying, listening and asking Him.

God's spiritual plan isn't in unbelievers and it isn't making sense to them, either.

Since God's wisdom resides in His Word, it is imperative to know what He has revealed.

Pray against your fears until they leave.

God gives great things, but sometimes He has our faith grow while we wait for them.

God won't give you every material thing, but He'll teach you that you don't need so much.

You give by faith and you'll receive by faith.

Are you looking, or just looking like you're looking?

A hug can sometimes express what words cannot.

How beautiful and bittersweet is it to understand what someone is saying when millions of people don't?

Listen closely to a person's last words.

What makes you feel good and celebrate?

Rejoice when you overcome adversity.

Rejoicing comes in many forms.

There are seasons of blessings after seasons of testings.

Since God is outside of time, He sees that our trials will end soon.

We'll rejoice if we can trust God in our trials.

The rejoicing in Heaven won't stop.  When will it begin in your life?

Jesus didn't die only to resurrect Himself.

When you're sinning and being part of the dying world, you cannot rejoice.

Read the scriptures slowly enough to soak them in and learn from them.

When Satan gives you blows, give Him an uppercut with the Word of God.

God's Word hits harder than Mike Tyson!

Don't pick up what you should leave alone.

Without God, all of our work, pleasure and wisdom are useless.

Lasting fulfillment comes from honoring God in all we do.

Set some boundaries in your dating relationship(s).

If you are faithful with the things God gives you, He will give you more.

According to human terms, God is not fair.  God is more than fair.

Karma is the opposite of grace.

Christians need to be watchful and prepare for Jesus' return because we don't know when it will happen.

Are you alive for Christ?

God changes the way you see things.

If you want to be Jesus' disciple, let Him have everything you own.

Keep your hands open to God because it will hurt less for Him to take something than if your hands where clenched around your possessions.

Don't spend time.  Invest time.

If God made you an orange, don't try and be an apple.

God has given all believers spiritual, supernatural enablements.

If you don't use your spiritual gifts, you're wasting them and sinning.

Are you an example of faith and love to the people around you?

Don't live for the joy of shopping, eating or looking good.  Live for the joy of the Lord.

Use and develop your spiritual gifts.

God speaks through believers and He often says things without using their words.

Pray, obey, tithe and forgive.  See what happens.

The devil probably wishes he could mess up our lives as much as we do on our own.

Write three things that you have not been faithful in.

If you aren't faithful to God and you don't see miracles happen, it's your fault.

You shouldn't base doctrines on prophetic scriptures.

If baptism isn't an action or a work, then you could complete it in your mind.

Exercise is essential for good physical and mental health.

Sharpen your discernment with the truth.

Accepting Christ isn't the hardest part.  The hardest part is letting go of everything.

Although you're standing in a room full of people, your worship is between you and God.

These quotes came from God, me, the Inspirational Study Bible (with Max Lucado), Tyrone Moore, Sarine Hamalian, Rick Yohn 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.  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

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.  If you have internet access and need a great, online, study Bible, go here: www.biblestudytools.net

 Since April of 1997, the weekly devotional message has been sent on the internet.   This message currently reaches 9390 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!

Jesus loves you!  

John 3:16   "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should have everlasting life."