This is the Weekly Devotional Message from

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

http://www.JCSM.org

Over 1500 Links!

Hello!

What's better than oatmeal, raisins and honey? Keep reading and you'll see!

Are you a Delirious fan? If you like this incredible Christian rock/worship band, you'll want to get their new album called Audio Lessonover?. Yesterday, this album was released in the United Kingdom. Currently, there is no U.S. release date, so you'll have to get it online at www.goldusa.com. Don't worry, though, I've bought a cd through this Christian company and they are quick, affordable and reliable.

I've added another one of my songs to the web! I wrote a really sad song called "The Joy Song"! Just kidding about the sad part. It's innovative, unique and fun! It's a song about being joyful about what the Lord is doing. You can download it for free here: http://listeningroom.lycos.com/fan/bands/freefood/Band.html. If you like it (or any of my other songs on Lycos), please rate it from 1 to 5. Anyone could find my songs on Lycos, so I'm hoping they are an encouragement to unbelievers, hungry Christians and anyone else who has internet access.

Here's a great link for Christian music: www.christianrock.net

In the month of July, the JCSM web site received an average of 68 hits per day and over 2000 total hits! This is a record for our internet ministry and we're praising God! Thanks for helping JCSM grow and reach the world! Please keep praying, visiting the web site and sharing the site and devotions with your friends and family.

My 27th birthday is on Monday, August 13th! I don't feel old, so I'm all right. Haha. I'll be going to the circus on Sunday!

Do you need information about the Catholic religion? If you do, please email me. I have done extensive study on the Catholic faith and I'd love to share what I've found and direct you to some great resources.

Please take a moment to visit our latest web poll! We're polling the world to see which denomination or religion they follow. There is only one question and it will take less than a minute. Please go here and click your answer: http://www.jcsm.org/denom/ .

I've been using an incredible Bible called The Inspirational Study Bible by Max Lucado. This Bible has great study helps by Max Lucado and many other solid theologians. You can get it in the New King James Version, too! If you'd like it or like to learn more, please go here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0849915228/qid=996988797/sr=2-2/ref=aps_sr_b_1_2/107-1164481-1660526.

We need a couple people to send the devotions in the regular mail. Are you God's man or woman for the job? This will only take a few minutes and a few dollars each month. If you'd like to serve the Lord in this way, please email me for more details!

A big congratulations goes to my friend Stephanie! She just accepted Jesus Christ for salvation! I'm thankful that our devotions and gospel messages could help. God bless you, Stephanie!

My 40 day fasting journal is finished and online! If you'd like to read the journal entries, "1 Week After" the fast, my post-fast diet and much more, please go here: http://www.jcsm.org/Fasting/2nd40DayFast.htm.

Thanks for those who emailed Rev. Peter about contemporary Christian music! I know your prayers and encouragement have made a difference in his life. Praise the Lord for your boldness.

Please pray for a Christian brother named Scott. He is pursuing a job with a new, local airline. This airline is buying a new plane and they want him to fly it. He just wants God's will and he loves to fly, so he's wondering if this is God's open door for him.

Are you a Star Wars fan? Do you want to know the name of the upcoming Episode II? You'll have to visit their site: http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/

God bless you in your Christian walk! I pray that Satan doesn't get you down. His fallen angels are tough, but remember that you have the living God inside you! Cling to God and He will lift You up. Nothing can separate us from Him!

Please pray for Miles McPhearson's church. The Rock is my home church and I've been attending since the first service (about a year and a half ago). They are finalizing plans to buy a huge lot and some buildings. The devil is trying to thwart their plans, so Miles wants us to pray that they persevere and overcome the obstacles in their way.

Do you like Switchfoot? If you live in Southern California, you'll have a chance to see them! Here are some dates: August 8 - Maranatha Chapel Rancho Bernardo - 6pm (with The Kry)! August 11 - Switchfoot performs in Murrietta, at the Calvary Conference Center, at 7pm! August 12 - Switchfoot plays in Hesperia, at the Calvary Chapel High Desert, at 6pm!

Are you receiving about twelve pages with this message? If this message is truncated, and perhaps you're only receiving half of it, you can always find these devotions on our web site! Simply go here: http://devos.jcsm.org.

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 51,000 hits!

Would you like to support God's work on the web? If this ministry has touched you in a special way, please pray and consider sending a gift to JCSM. You can join us in our vision to reach people on the web with the good news! Please email me or see our address below.

Welcome to the recipients of this message! Here are the devotions, challenge, moment of introspection, the Bible word of the week, the Bible trivia question, last week's trivia answer, an excerpt from "The Revised and Expanded Answers Book" and the quotations for the week. Have a fantastic week and God bless you!

Love in Christ,

Jason J. Gastrich

Contact Us: http://jcsm.org/contact.php

ICQ#: 20731140

The Weekly Devotional Message

Day 1: "Praise God With A Dance"

2 Samuel 6:14, 15 "Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet."

Psalm 149:3 "Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp."

Psalm 150:4 "Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!"

Ecclesiastes 3:4 "(There is) A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;"

Psalm 30:11, 12 "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."

Prayer: "Thank you for encouraging us to praise You with a dance! Let our dancing always be glorifying to You, Lord. Help us to take these scriptures in context and not make them say that we should be dancing in bars or dancing provocatively with single people. Purify us and let us praise You with our dancing. Thank you for giving us so much energy and excitement that we can't sit still! Lift us up and give us joy, Lord. Help us obey your Word. Thank you for having patience on us and meeting us where we are. Let us know how much better things could be if we obeyed You more closely! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 2: "In Whose Eyes?"

Isaiah 5:21 "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!"

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

Proverb 16:2 "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits."

Proverb 26:12 "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."

Proverb 30:12 "There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness."

Psalm 53:2 "God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God."

Revelation 3:18 "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."

Prayer: "Dear Lord, thanks for wanting us to see things like You do. Help us to trust You more than we do ourselves. Let us read your Word, know what it says and obey it. Thank you for giving us such an awesome source of power and truth! There is nothing like it in all of the universe. Thank you that the Bible has stood the test of time. Thank you that it was not destroyed or changed. Forgive us for trying to do things without You. Give us wisdom and more faith. Help us to be more devoted to You. Remind us that your ways are best. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 3: "Our True Family"

Matthew 12:50 "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

1 Corinthians 12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."

Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father."

Ephesians 1:5 "Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us an awesome family! Thank you for letting us have loving friends. Heal the ones who never had a quality earthly family. Let your body of believers be our new family and satisfy us through You. Praise You for working through your people! Thank you for doing such awesome things, all over the world, at once! Let us understand You better. Help us to see You like You truly are. Expand our brains and our knowledge. Help us to embrace all of our Christian family. Thank you for giving us diversity. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 4: "Worship God"

1 Chronicles 16:9, 23 "Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day."

John 4:23, 24 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

Psalm 47:6 "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!"

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

Prayer: "Thank you for wanting our worship, Lord! There's no other God like You in all of the universe! Remind us that You are worthy of our praise and love. Help us to have self-control and discipline, so we can devote sufficient time to worshiping You! Thank you for blessing us when we worship You. Remind us that not only do You want our worship because You are worthy, but You want us to experience the blessings and joy of praising You. Thank you for blessing us and rewarding us like no human ever could. Let us remember You every day, all the time. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 5: "Be in Him, Have Him in You"

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

Colossians 1:27 "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?"

Prayer: "Thank you for being in us, Lord! Thank you for literally living inside of us and making us like You. Help us to understand this supernatural phenomenon. Praise You for doing things that our beyond our imagination and understanding! You are an awesome God. Thank you for letting us be in You. Help us to walk in your truth. Thank you for saving the ones who have believed in You and confessed their sins to You. Save more people, Lord! Help us to continually pray for the lost ones. Thank you for our salvation and the wonder of walking with You! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 6: "The Pursuit of God"

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."

Jeremiah 29:13 "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

Matthew 7:7, 8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

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."

Prayer: "Thank you for wanting us to pursue You. Help us to come to you boldy, humbly and meekly. Thank you for hearing our prayers and revealing yourself to us. Remind us that pursuing You is not a joke and not something to be taken lightly. Thank you for being an awesome and patient God! Forgive us for our sins. Give us wholehearted devotion to You, Lord. Remind us of the awesome times when You have revealed yourself to us and others. Help us to seek You again and again! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 7: "God's Awesome Thoughts"

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Isaiah 55:8, 9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

Psalm 40:5 "Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered."

Psalm 139:17, 18 "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You."

Prayer: "Thank you for thinking awesome things about us. Thank you for having the highest hopes and plans for us! Remind us that when our earthly mentors, friends and family aren't encouraging us and helping us reach our potential, You will be standing there, lifting us up and helping us reach heights that were seemingly impossible to reach. Praise You! Thank you for being bigger than all. Thank you for knowing exactly what we need, when we need it and how to give it to us! Prepare us for your blessings. Give us the wisdom we need to handle the things You want to give us. Let the Christians repent of all sins and enjoy times of refreshment in You! Thank you for giving us a complete message and a complete life. Help us to desire and eat all of your Word! Fill us up, Lord, and make us like You! Remove our foolishness and earthly desires. Let us completely trust in You and wait on You. You are our God! To You be all the glory, honor and praise, forever and ever! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Challenge

Take a few minutes to tell God what He already knows. Praise Him! Quote His Word to Him!

A Moment of Introspection

Do you define who you are by what you do?

It's interesting that it's so easy to talk about our occupations, but more difficult to talk about our relationship with God, our personalities, our character, etc. Who we are is more important than what we do, however, some people let their jobs define them.

Try and let God define you. Find what He wants for you. When someone asks you who you are or asks you to talk about yourself, try talking about your love for God, your conversion to Christianity, your hobbies and personality traits, etc.

It's not wrong to talk or think about work. Everyone should work and work hard. However, we need to be complete people and realize that life is much more than our occupation. We are much more than our occupations. We are people becoming whole in Christ!

The Bible Word of the Week

Hermeneutics: the study of the methodological principles of interpretation (as of the Bible)

The Bible Trivia Question

Who was given the title "Man After God's Own Heart"?

(Email me your answer!)

Last Week's Bible Trivia Answer

Potiphar was the Egyptian officer that bought Joseph. See Genesis 36:37.

An Excerpt from "The Revised and Expanded Answers Book" by Ken Ham, Jonathan Sarfati and Carl Wieland

Did the Kangaroo Hop All the Way to Australia?

How did animals make the long journey from the Ararat region? Even though there have been isolated reports of individual animals making startling journeys of hundreds of miles, such abilities are not even necessary. Early settlers released a very small number of rabbits in Australia. Wild rabbits are now found at the very opposite corner (in fact, every corner) of this vast continent. Does that mean that an individual rabbit had to be capable of crossing the whole of Australia? Of course not. Creation speakers are sometimes asked mockingly, "Did the kangaroo hop all the way to Australia?" We see by the rabbit example that this is a somewhat foolish question.

Populations of animals may have had centuries to migrate, relatively slowly, over many generations. Incidentally, the opposite question (also common), as to whether the two kangaroos hopped all the way from Australia to the ark, is also easily answered. The continents we now have, with their load of flood-deposited sedimentary rock, are not the same as whatever continent or continents there may have been in the pre-flood world.

We also lack information as to how animals were distributed before the flood. Kangaroos (as is true for any other creature) may not have been on an isolated landmass. Genesis 1:9 suggests that there may have been only one landmass. ("Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.") For all we know, kangaroos might have been feeding within a stone's throw of Noah while he was building the ark.

It may be asked, if creature were migrating to Australia over a long time (with journey would have included such places as Indonesia, presumably) why do we not find their fossils en route in such countries?

Fossilization is a rare event, requiring as a rule, sudden burial (as in the flood) to prevent decomposition. Lions lived in Israel until relatively recently. We don't find lion fossils in Israel, yet this doesn't prevent us believing the many historical reports of their presence. The millions of bison that once roamed the United States of America have left virtually no fossils.

So why should it be a surprise that small populations, presumably under migration pressure from competitors and/or predators, and thus living in any one area for a few generations at most, should leave no fossils?

The Quotations of the Week

Thank God that your pastors and ministers have answered God's call to do His will.

God has a passion to do something great through you and He's waiting for you to ask Him what it is.

What God can do is far better than what I can do.

Why do we always want to skip the consequences of sin?

What has God ever done to you that you shouldn't completely trust Him?

Blaming God for something and refraining from going to church is always wrong.

As a Christian, you're supposed to worship Christ.

Many Christians leave church, return to sinful lives and think they can live off their one, Sunday sermon without reading God's Word, praying or obeying Him.

If you cut corners on your faith, you'll cut corners on your blessings.

Our biggest battles aren't political or financial; they're spiritual.

Ups and downs are parts of God's plan.

You don't have to wonder what God is thinking about you. His Word tells us.

God's thoughts and blessings toward us don't change just because He blesses someone else.

When you're obedient and submissive to God, He makes decisions and leads you.

If you were to ask God what He likes about you, He would have a lot to say.

Ask God to help you accept His perfect timing for the changes you desire.

Asking for God's blessings isn't selfish; it's biblical.

Do you clearly see what God is doing?

If you pray regularly, your life is unexplainable.

Don't serve God with a bad attitude.

Come to God and see what He wants for you.

Unless you seek God with all your heart, you won't know what it's like to walk with God.

What do you have to do before you can seek God with your whole heart?

Satan's only hope is that he can defeat God in the battle of Megiddo (Armageddon).

Are you proclaiming the gospel in the midst of people who are unsaved?

Do you know the voice of Jesus?

It's easier to battle the devil when you know his schemes.

God wants you to eat the whole Bible; not just some of it.

Knowing only some of the Bible is like having a full suit and not wearing the pants.

If the anti-Christ appeared like a demonic spirit that hated everyone, even unbelievers may be afraid and decide not to follow him.

The anti-Christ will be persuasive; like an angel of light.

Satan doesn't want to admit God's sovereignty or salvation.

Satan doesn't quote scripture correctly.

The Pharisees couldn't admit the salvation or sovereignty of God because Satan was in them.

Filling your life with ungodly things is tormenting.

How firm is God's grip on your life?

How ready are you to testify to God's Word?

Let us feel what You feel about the lost ones.

Make a difference in this dying world.

God's Word can make you smile like nothing else can!

All my songs are for You.

Don't blame everyone else for your problems.

Have your abundant resources kept you from depending on God?

Jesus didn't die a martyr's death. He gave His life as a substitutionary atonement.

Take a few minutes to tell God what He already knows.

Do you realize the excuses you make when you're supposed to go to church and take steps of faith?

God's calling you to walk with Him without compromise.

If you're single, don't just look for the right person; be the right person.

Put away your past.

Put your life in God's hands and obey Him.

Minister to the ones who bother you.

How are you going to learn God's lessons if you're never tested?

God puts difficult people in your life so you can love them.

In a time when people don't want to commit to anything, remember that God remains committed to you.

Forgive everyone who has ever wronged you.

God looks for people who want to worship Him and we should look for Him.

These quotes came from God, me, the Inspirational Study Bible (with Max Lucado), Tyrone Moore, All Together Separate 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've written in the most beneficial way, try and trace them back to the scriptures 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 share the gospel over 1 million times each year! 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! JCSM regularly gives to churches and needy people. Another function of this ministry is to do counseling. We are always answering questions about life, the Lord and everything in between. Lastly, we do a lot of research on religious topics on the internet and library. You will definitely see the results of our hard work and your loving support, in the web pages, and in the weekly devotions!

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 JCSM, please email us and we will send them to you, personally, each week. Don't worry. We don't send forwards or any other junk mail. Plus, we 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 we send, however, please email me us you wish to be removed from this list. If you prefer to receive the devotions in Spanish, send us 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 and 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". 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.

Go here to donate free Bibles to people: http://www.TheBibleSite.org. If you want to join an organization that helps feed and clothe poor people, check into World Vision. You can see their site here: www.worldvision.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 us 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 us know. We can 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 over 20,000 people in 99 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."