This is the Weekly Devotional Message from

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

www.JCSM.org

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Hello!

The JCSM devotions. There may be something like them, but we doubt it. Read on and be blessed!

Would you like two, free Left Behind, discount passes? This fantastic movie about the end times is in the movie theaters. Please make sure it is playing in your area before you email me for the passes (www.leftbehind-themovie.com). I'll send them to the first person who responds to this message.

My premarital counseling classes are going very well. Sarine and I are enjoying planning our wedding, too. Thanks for your emails and instant messages about the wedding planning. Please pray that we can earn enough money to have a great, memorable wedding on April 7th! I'm sure God will provide for us. Right now, we still need to find a good florist and caterer in the San Diego area.

I'm happy to announce that we've found a very good prospect to play bass guitar with my band! We've been auditioning a lot of people, so it feels great to find someone who has a common interest, desire, goal, love, etc. Please pray that Jeremy writes his bass parts, comes to our practices and enjoys glorifying God with us. We're still looking for a drummer and preparing to play out.

I've given Brigham Young University permission to use four of my pictures from Israel. One of their curriculum designers contacted me and asked for my permission. I wouldn't have helped a Mormon organization, but they promised to put a credit line, which leads to my ministry web page, under each picture. Please pray that the Mormons who take Religion 211 and 212 find the true Jesus Christ on my web site.

Would you like to see how fast you can type? You can take a quick, easy typing test here: http://www.universityoflife.com/typingtest.htm

Do you need some new Christian music? I have some friends in a great band called The Lemonade Stand. They're from Flagstaff, Arizona and you can read about them here: http://www.lemonadestandband.com. Their second album, Special Recipe, was released in December. It features a wide variety of instruments, including the sax, clarinet, bass, drums, congas, guitars and flute! For a taste of funk, jazz, latin and rock n roll, check out TLS. God bless you guys and I hope to see you in March!

A fantastic soccer season is finally over. It was great to coach such a good group of guys. We had a winning season and played many very close games. Thanks for your prayers and support. Hopefully, I'll continue coaching them either in club soccer or next year at Santa Fe Christian.

Do you have a friend who attends a Seventh Day Adventist Church? Discover what they believe here: http://www.sdaoutreach.org

Thanks for the chance to encourage you on the web! It's my pleasure to send you the devotions. Keep growing spiritually and you'll see great blessings from the Lord.

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 41,000 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, moment of introspection, 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: "Holier Than Thou"

Leviticus 10:3b "By those who come near Me, I must be regarded as holy."

Psalm 99:9 "Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the LORD our God is holy."

Proverb 30:5 " Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him."

Prayer: "Thank you for being so holy, God! There is no other God like You. Forgive us our sins. Cleanse us and make us like You. Thank you for having such great mercy and patience on us. Thank you for taking the time to change us and be faithful to us. Remind us to keep pursuing You and your holiness. Thank you for letting us see You. Help us to be like You, Lord. Give us strength to leave worldly things behind. Purify our desires. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 2: "The Greatest of All Time"

John 11:43, 44 "Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!' And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Loose him, and let him go.'"

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 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Hebrews 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."

1 Timothy 3:16 "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory."

Prayer: "Thank you for being the greatest of all time! Thank you for being the greatest God, the greatest Friend and the greatest Savior. Let us devote our lives to You, Lord. Thank you for being better than all other gods. Thank you for having more power and truth than anything in the universe. Thank you for being able to change lives like nothing else can. Help us to put our faith in You, Lord. Remind us that You are the greatest love on Earth. To You be all the glory, honor and praise! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 3: "God Never Changes"

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever."

Malachi 3:6a "For I am the LORD, I do not change."

Prayer: "Thank you for never changing! Thank you for telling us what You expect and not changing your rules. Help us to be people of our word, too. Let us learn from You and emulate You. Thank you for actually being the truth. Teach us your ways, Lord, and help us to understand the mysteries of You and your Word. Thank you for being larger than our minds. Thank you for creating us with a limited capacity to understand. Let us be content with what You have given us and still pursue You in faith. Give us godliness with contentment. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 4: "Boldly Come"

Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

Prayer: "Thank you for wanting us to boldly approach You! Help us to pray to You with faith. Thank you for wanting us to be confident. Let us pray to You and know You are there and will answer us. Give us more boldness and courage. Let us have a relationship with You that is productive and dynamic, not insecure or apathetic. Praise You for giving us a direct way of communication with the mighty God of the universe! Let us not take this for granted. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 5: "Why Did He Die?"

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 14:9 "For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living."

Hebrews 9:22 "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission (of sins).

Prayer: "Thank you for dying for us, Jesus. Thank you for paying the penalty of our sins on the cross. Thank you for doing what we could not have done. Let us praise You and thank You all the time. Thank you for never sinning. Thank you for showing us what true love is really like. Help us to love You and others more. Teach us how to love deeply and consistently. Thank you for giving us salvation! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 6: "Please Him"

Colossians 1:9, 10 "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

2 Corinthians 5:9 "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him."

John 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

Proverb 16:7 "When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Romans 8:8 "So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Psalm 69:30, 31 "I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves."

Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?"

Prayer: "Thank you for showing us how to please You. Thank you for your Word. Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit! Help us to do your will, Lord. Forgive us for falling short of your glorious ideal. Lift us up. Lift our heads and keep us on the right path. Thank you for the wonderful way pleasing You helps us! You are an awesome God. Thank you for giving us salvation and wanting us to be in your home for eternity! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 7: "Do You Want Riches?"

Luke 12:33 "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys."

John 6:27 "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Colossians 3:23, 24 "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Hebrews 10:34, 35 "You had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward."

Mark 4:19 "The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."

1 Timothy 6:17 "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy."

Prayer: "Thank you for contrasting Earthly riches with Heavenly riches. Teach us how to earn eternal riches and how to devalue temporary wealth. Thank you for walking the Earth and showing us how to live. Let us be like You, Jesus. Thank you for giving every person a better way. Help us to break free from the world's system and pursue what You want. Thank you for knowing what is best and giving us strength to do it. Help us to earn eternal rewards! Show us what will last and what will not. Give us the courage to repent and walk toward You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Challenge

What is your role in building God's church? List the things you are doing. List the things you need to be doing. God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

A Moment of Introspection

What are you doing to build God's church? God wants us to live for Him and serve Him. Only what we do for God will last. All other efforts will not stand the test of fire when He judges our deeds.

Are you investing in eternity or in worldly gain? Look within. Make necessary changes. It doesn't matter what you used to do. It doesn't matter what other people want you to do. Following Jesus is all that matters. His ways are perfect and His commands must be followed.

I've always liked this quote, "Don't let your greatest treasure on Earth be asphalt in Heaven." There will be streets of gold in Heaven. Asphalt is what our streets are made of.

The Bible Trivia Question

Who were the people seen with Jesus when He was transfigured?

Last Week's Bible Trivia Answer

There are 66 books in the Bible.

Quotations

You don't need to go to the pastor, a saint or an idol to get to God.

If you have something better than Jesus, show it to me.

I don't want to depend on myself or any other human for forgiveness from God.

We must be Holy to have a relationship with a Holy God.

Sin cannot stand in the presence of God.

The greatest sacrifice possible has been made for you. How highly do you value it?

Thank God for His sacrifice and live differently, today, because you are thankful.

God's love is greater than my sin.

The law in the Old Testament was insufficient, so Christ came to fulfill it.

God's sinless blood covers me forever.

Prayer is like consistently asking God to improve the story of your life. When is the last time you talked to God about your life?

Sometimes when you're feelings get hurt, you can't just pretend they didn't.

A clean conscience makes a soft pillow.

A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

Are you wrinkled with burdens? Go to Church for a faith lift!

Be fishers of men. You catch 'em. He'll clean 'em.

Do your best and then sleep in peace. God is awake.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Exercise daily. Walk with the Lord!

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

Give God what's right, not what's left!

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

God doesn't want shares of your life; He wants controlling interest!

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you.

He who is good at making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

He who kneels before God can stand before anyone!

If God is your copilot, swap seats!

Kindness is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

Man's way leads to a hopeless end. God's way leads to an endless hope!

Never give the devil a ride. He will always want to drive!

Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it.

Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

When you pray, don't give God instructions; just report for duty.

The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.

The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.

To be almost saved is to be totally lost.

We don't change the message. The message changes us.

Worry is the darkroom in which negatives are developed.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

Everybody is always, almost doing something.

Experience is what you get when you fail.

Signs and miracles don't validate one's teachings.

Don't cry on the cards. It makes it hard to shuffle.

The family is a greenhouse for spiritual growth and a relay center for passing on spiritual truths to the next generation.

After marriage, it quits being "me" and starts being "us".

In marriage, the world sees a picture of what God is like.

Two spouses complete each other through their unique differences and weaknesses.

Marriage is two independent people who choose to become interdependent.

God brings a husband and wife together, so they can accomplish together what they could not accomplish alone.

When God calls you to marry, He gives you a mate who, by divine design, will complete you.

When Moses penned the words to identify woman as a helper, it was counter to the culture's common, low view of women.

As you set sail in your marriage, the only safe, secure and sensible harbor is the one found in the person and the Word of God.

How much you live the Bible is more important than how much you know the Bible.

The best dating relationships come out of friendships.

Only a commitment to Jesus can keep you pure.

Sin saps your spiritual strength.

Sexual immorality is a sin against God, yourself and the community.

Pleasing Jesus is in your spiritual DNA.

The community can thrive when you're not sinning with them.

Nobody is perfect at pleasing Christ.

Can people tell you are committed to Christ?

Commitment is revealed when there is a cost involved.

The deeper commitment you have, the more you are willing to sacrifice to keep it.

Our love for God must supercede all other desires.

We all need a place where we can be loved and appreciated.

Isn't a loving, Christian community the greatest evangelical tool?

Accept one another because Jesus accepts you.

Jesus is the foundation of truth, love and godliness.

The only kind of leading that really works is leading by being an example.

God will test the quality of our work like fire tests the quality of building materials.

How are things, internally?

Don't allow the smoke screen of more money blind your eyes to the truth. There is a lot more to being rich than making more money.

For the real riches, try switching kingdoms.

More money never made anyone truly rich.

These quotes came from God, me, the Inspirational Study Bible (with Max Lucado), Dennis Rainey, Chuck Swindoll, Mike Yearley 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

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 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!