Hello!

Have you visited JCSM, lately?  If not, you're missing some great pictures, Bible lessons, humor, poetry and more!  

Last week, we noticed that everyone got our devotions!  This was a great blessing and also a surprise.  We thought we had been using a reliable ISP and good software.  Nonetheless, we believe we have everything fixed and running perfectly.  If you ever don't get the devotions, please either let me know or read them on the web site.  Can you believe that they have been sent, uninterrupted, since 1997?  They have!

We now have a whole photo album of our newborn baby!  She's doing very well and if you'd like to see 13 pictures of Jordan, please go here: http://www.jcsm.org/Jordan/BabyPictures.htm. 

Promise Keepers 2002 is in Los Angeles this weekend!  If you haven't been to a PK event, they are quite awesome and inspirational.  Christian men from all walks of life get together and hear sermons on purity, being a better husband and friend, leading by example, knowing and loving God, etc.  Next week, I'll post my notes from the conference and if you'd like to read about PK, here's their web site: http://www.promisekeepers.org. 

On Tuesday, my wife and I went to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa for Jeremy Camp's cd release party.  We've known him for several years and he's a nice guy with a passion for God.  I recommend getting his new album.  His style is reminiscent of 3rd Day and Jars of Clay.

JCSM welcomes Farhad from Tashkent, Uzbekistan!  He has found us on the internet and with the addition of Farhad, we are now reaching 100 different countries.  We pray God's blessings for Farhad and his family.

Please pray for a friend in Christ who is dying of cancer.  He has been diagnosed with 7 months to live.  We know his life is in God's hands and we hope that every day he spends on Earth is a victorious one.  Please pray for his family, too.

God bless you as you love and serve Jesus.  Remember to do everything wholeheartedly, as if you were doing it directly for the Lord.  He will reward you and lift you up.

Did you know that over the last few hundred years, numerous scientists who made important, scientific discoveries were believers in the biblical account of creation?  It's very unfortunate how the theory of evolution (from microbes to man) has gripped our country and this world.  Please visit the following site and you'll see these awesome scientists and their impact on the world: 

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 5000 links (pictures, forums, midis, Bible lessons, humor, proverbial stories, links, devotions, poetry, prayer journals and much more!) and it has registered over 81,000 visits!

If you need to email me, please see the address below. Hitting "reply" to this message won’t send an email to me. I’m sorry if this is an inconvenience to you, however, rest assured that I will answer all of the emails I receive.

Welcome to the new recipients of this message! Here are the devotions, challenge, the Hebrew Bible word of the week and the quotations for the week. Have a fantastic week and God bless you!

Love in Christ,

Jason J. Gastrich

The Weekly Devotional Message

Day 1: "Our Greatest Hope"

1 Timothy 4:9, 10  "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe."

Hebrews 6:19, 20  "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

Hebrews 10:23  "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

Philippians 1:18-20  "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death."

Titus 1:1-3  "Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;"

Romans 8:22-25  "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."

Insight: What greater hope can we have besides the hope of salvation and eternal life in Heaven?  Remember what other people and religions promise, then remember what the God of the Bible promises.  Stay hopeful.  This life will pass quickly.

Prayer: "Thank you for being our hope, Lord!  Thank you for having and offering so much more than anybody else could.  Thank you for being a good God.  Thank you for giving us exactly what we need and not some pipe dream and a handful of empty promises.  Help us to be like You, Lord.  Give us your words to speak.  Forgive us for our foolishness.  Let us claim the promises in your Word and see how You fulfill them.  Thank you for being honest and sincere.  Let us see You clearly.  You are our everything!  You are our hope.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 2: "Be Patient"

Proverb 16:32 "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."

Matthew 18:26 "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt."

Luke 21:19 "By your patience possess your souls."

2 Corinthians 6:4a "But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience."

1 Timothy 6:11 "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness."

2 Thessalonians 3:5 "Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ."

Insight: God's desire is for us to be patient people.  Watch what you say.  Watch how you say it.  Are you being loving and truly patient?

Prayer: "Thank you for being patient with us, Lord.  Bless us and forgive us.  Thank you for being the ultimate example of patience because You love sinners that don't repent.  Thank you for loving people that may seem unlovable to us.  Thank you for having deep and consistent love, too.  Let us forgive ourselves and have patience with others.  Thank you for the ones who have patience with us.  Remind us that we should be constantly emulating You.  We need your entire person, Lord!  Saturate us with You.  Melt away the old person that is within us and mold us into the new person of You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 3: "Sins Are Against God"

Genesis 39:9  "There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

Psalm 119:11 "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You."

1 Kings 8:46a "When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin."

Insight: When we sin, we are not only sinning against another person, we are sinning against God.  God takes all of our sins personally.  Don't forget to ask Him for forgiveness.

Prayer: "Forgive us for our sins, Lord.  Wash us clean and make us pure.  Thank you for telling us the truth about sin.  Help us understand how sin hurts both You and others.  Help us to be mindful of our actions and even our thoughts.  Let us be careful and not sin.  Thank you for being faithful to us, Lord.  Thank you for telling us how to live pure and holy lives.  Let us walk in the light of your Word.  Help us to stay on the right path and abstain from evil.  Protect us from the powers of darkness, Lord.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 4: "Goodwill To All People"

Romans 13:10  "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

Luke 6:27, 28 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you."

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

John 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Insight: Christ loved everyone He met.  We are to do the same.  Love is a choice and it knows no colors.  Freely love the people you see.

Prayer: "Thank you for loving everyone and wanting us to do the same, Lord.  Help us to see people like You do.  Forgive us for holding grudges and hating the people You made and told us to love.  Let us shine like the heavens, Lord.  Work through us.  Let us be your instruments of love to all humankind.  Thank you for using dirty, human vessels that You choose to clean and help.  Let us lift our hands to You in obedience.  You are God and You know the best way.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 5: "Completion"

Isaiah 64:8 "But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand."

Philippians 1:6 "Be confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Insight: God promises to complete the work that He starts in us.  When we are saved, we start becoming more and more like Christ.  This process is called sanctification and it doesn't end until we die and received glorified bodies.

Prayer: "Thank you for wanting us to be complete, Lord.  Thank you for promising to finish the work that You start in us.  Thank you for helping us get on this path and stay on this path.  Lift us up.  Remind us that we will be made pure and sinless one day.  Thank you for the glimpses of purity that You give us on Earth.  Thank you for the places that have less sins than others.  Help us to take refuge in You, Lord.  You are the best place for us.  Keep sanctifying us.  You are the Potter and we are your clay.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 6: "He's There!"

Psalm 36:5 "Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds."

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

Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble."

Joshua 1:5 "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you."

Insight: God goes before us, behind us and with us.  Everywhere you look, God is there.  Ask God to remind you that He is there.  He is watching everything and loving us, even though we fail to be perfect.

Prayer: "Thank you for being faithful to us, Lord!  Thank you for being everywhere and being able to protect us from the attacks from the evil one.  Let us fully trust in You.  Increase our love and our faithfulness, Lord.  We want to touch You and know You.  Thank you for the awesome promises in your Word.  You are with us and there is no way we can avoid You.  Thank you for putting your Holy Spirit within us!  Remind us that You are always here.  Give us courage and esteem.  Remind us we are on the winning team!  You are the victorious and living God.  You will reign from eternity past to eternity future!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 7: "Tell A Friend!"

Psalm 89:1 "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations."

Matthew 28:19, 20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen."

Romans 1:16 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen."

Insight: Tell everyone you know about Jesus Christ and how He has changed your life!  Do you praise your favorite sports team or favorite actor/actress more than Jesus?

Prayer: "Thank you for being worthy of our time and devotion, Lord.  Thank you for being the centerpiece of my life.  Help me to remember that You are my salvation and hope; the rest is details.  Thank you for being an awesome God!  Thank you for rising from the grave and touching me with your grace.  Help me to see You clearly and know You are with me.  Give me great boldness and courage, so I can preach your Word and be unashamed.  Help us to recall what You have done and simply tell others.  Let us not be ashamed.  You are a great God and You are real.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Buy a friend lunch!  Take someone out to lunch and pay for it.  This will be a blessing to them and to you.

God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

hope: tik-vaw - expectation, thing that I long for

These quotes came from God, me, God's Little Devotional Calendar (Tyndale), Dave Merck 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!

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