A Christian Hunter's Devotions and Studies

[preacherman]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

Thanks for sharing Josh

[christsavedme]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

In The Garden

from Outdoors With God

by Lance Moore

Today’s Scriptures:

“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man He had formed.” Genesis 2:8

“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb.” John 19:41

The Gardener

The cool of the morning, just before dawn. It would have been a beautiful spring morning had it not been for the horrible images of crucifixion still imprinted on Mary’s mind. And actually, it was still too dark to see the beauty of the flowers in the garden, the cemetery garden where Jesus’ body had been placed three days prior. There was just enough light to see the shapes, but not faces. Mary was startled to bump into someone and assumed it must be the gardener. Who else would be up so early among the tombs? Perhaps he was up early to beat the heat of midday sun, to till and plant, to pull weeds, to water, to bring life and beauty to this dismal spot of death. He was the gardener, but not the one hired by the wealthy landowners to tend their tombs. It was Jesus, the risen Lord-the Creator-Gardener who brought beauty out of ugliness, fruitfulness out of barrenness, health out of disease, and yes, even life out of death.

The Paradox

I’m glad the Gospel writer included this curious detail about Mary mistaking Jesus for the gardener. Though easily overlooked, it presents in one small picture a striking paradox: a gardener among the tombs. There in the place of the dead was a garden, teeming with life.

Jesus said that God the Father is a gardener (John 15:1), a vinedresser. God’s act of creating humanity is portrayed in Genesis in terms of gardening. In the Garden of Eden account, Adam was made out of adamah, the Hebrew word for ground or dirt. Our entire blooming planet is testament to the fact that gardening-growing flowers and fruits, vegetables and trees-is one of God’s favorite hobbies-and His favorite crayon is green (well maybe second favorite….right after sky blue). Jesus, likewise, has an affinity for flora. He peppered His parables with agrarian images-sowers and seeds, orchards and fruit trees, pruning and grafting, farmers and gardeners.

The Challenge

And it was in gardens that Jesus faced His greatest challenges. The first was a challenge of emotion and spirit, the second was a challenge of the body.

When Jesus saw that His destiny was leading Him toward a painful death, He retreated to a garden called Gethsemane to contemplate and pray about the situation. He was “deeply distressed and troubled” (Mark 14:33-34) and said to His disciples, “’My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.’” Christ’s emotional struggle in the garden sounds even more intense than the physical pain He would soon suffer upon the cross-His second greatest challenge. My mental picture of the Crucifixion is of a barren, rocky, gloomy spot, but the Scripture states instead that, “at the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden”(John 19:41).

And that same paradox runs through all of life. We cry at weddings and tell jokes about death. Our greatest satisfactions and triumphs usually come after our toughest struggles, even after failures. In the same hospital on the same day, a grandparent dies and a grandbaby is born. The rose grows on the thorn.

Conclusions

Two conclusions, polar opposites, can be drawn from this paradox. Some might say the thorns, the bad things in life, ruin the garden. I believe that the flowers bring beauty to the garden even if they have thorns….or adorn tombstones.

Being mature means that we are willing to accept life’s pains alongside life’s joys, life’s darkness with its light, the greens mixed with the grays. If we will learn from Jesus, we can make this paradox a practical help for living. As Jesus knew, whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, a garden can be a soothing retreat. Try to deal with the unpleasant things of life in the most pleasant environment you can find and with the loveliest of thoughts you can muster. Whenever you face hard decisions or experience dark anxieties, just remember that Jesus faced them, too. In the garden.

Today’s Prayer:

O God our Creator, we are grateful that we are never alone in the garden of life. We thank You for the beauty You have placed all around us. Help us to never loss sight of the good as we deal with life’s struggles. AMEN

Hope everyone has a blessed day and remember God is bigger than anything we will face today or tommorow.....He will never place before us anything that He can't bring us out of. God bless!

Josh

[preacherman]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

again, thanks for sharing Josh

[christsavedme]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

Something Dark In The Woods

From Outdoors With God

By Lance Moore

Today’s Scripture:

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

Sounds From The Darkness

There was something dark and foreboding in the woods….Well, actually, the woods themselves were dark and foreboding because the sun was just beginning to rise, the trees were tall, and the shadows long. My friend Danny had gotten an early start on his solitary turkey hunt and was already deep into the woods when it struck him how spooky the forest could be at that hour. He began to think about the vastness of the National Forest and the possibility of real dangers-bears, snakes, bobcats, perhaps even a mountain lion. He wondered, would a turkey shot stop a bear or wildcat? And then it happened. His fears became real. He heard the noise of another animal in the woods, and from the sound of it, a large animal. And it was coming closer.

Real Danger

Something very bad was indeed about to attack Danny. I’ll leave you hanging for a moment about his predicament while I ask you to contemplate the matter. As beautiful and serene as the great outdoors can be, nature also has its share of dangers and evils. This is true of life in general. Life has joys and sorrows, opportunities and threats, good and evil. One minute we may be driving merrily down the highway with the stereo playing our favorite tune; and the next minute, a drunk driver may come over the hill in our lane. Life is fragile. There may be a fish bone destined for your throat. You may get an infected hangnail and die from routine complications. If you have too much life insurance, your “loving” wife may “accidentally” drop a hair dryer into the bathtub! Seriously, this life is always just a few heartbeats away from death.

As a minister, I have a close association with the Grim Reaper. I spend more time than I wish at hospital emergency rooms, funeral homes, and cemeteries. But if I may be allowed a statement that is, as Grandpa McCoy used to say, “no brag, just fact,” when people in those situations look into my eyes, they do not see fear but faith. I don’t know all the answers, I don’t know all the mysteries of God, but I do know (as much as I can know anything infinite in this finite brain) that this life is not all there is. The miracle of life is not a temporary flicker of eighty-some years; God created us with eternity in mind. God has a plan for us beyond the place where the shadows fall in the forest. Up and beyond the dark valley, God will bring a sunrise over tomorrow’s hill.

The Shadow Of Death

My friend Danny came face-to-face with the shadow of death that day while hunting. He heard a noise and turned just in time to be hit in the face by gunfire. The “very bad” thing in the woods turned out to be the most dangerous creature of the forest; a human. A careless hunter had mistaken Danny for wild game. Luckily, it was turkey season, so Danny was hit in the face with bird shot, not a shotgun intended for deer. Shocked, Danny had no idea how severe his injuries were except that the faster his adrenaline ran, the more he bled. The good news: A hospital was not far away. The careless hunter had enough presence of mind to help Danny get prompt medical attention. He survived, though the shot had come close to blinding him.

It’s A Jungle Out There!

Most of us no longer face our greatest threats in shadowy mountain passages or in vine-tangled jungles. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other ailments stalk us in our urban offices and rural factories. Moral dangers lurk around us, as well. Temptations to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh also bring on dangers to the flesh (sexual promiscuity can lead to disease, drug and alcohol abuse can lead to addiction, etc.). The Bible describes the devil as a stalking lion. Nowadays, our adversary usually takes the form of other people: selfish or careless men and women who will exploit us, tempt us, cajole us, or drag us into the dark alleys of immoral behavior. It is not enough to be a passive Christian; we must actively be in communion with God’s Word and presence for our souls to survive.

A Light In The Darkness

Yes, there are dark and dangerous things out there in the jungle of life. And the greatest danger is damage to the spirit. If the darkness of our valley of shadows is internal, if our souls are empty and ashen, if we never seek the True Light, woe be to us. This spiritual truth is reflected in a physiological fact. Doctors have identified a type of clinical depression called “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” appropriately abbreviated as SAD, caused by a lack of natural sunlight. SAD becomes more common in winter, with its shortened days, overcast skies, and our tendency to stay in the warm indoors. A simple cure for SAD is what this book recommends: Getting outside on the sunny days and soak up the bright beauty of God’s creation. The lift we feel under a cheery blue sky is not just psychological. Sunlight produces Vitamin D when it strikes human skin, and there are other beneficial chemical processes that fight depression, some involving the eyeball itself, all of which come by exposure to the sun.

Thankfully, God has sent life and light to us in His Son, Jesus, true Light for the soul and Life for the body. John the Beloved said it best: In Christ, “was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

Today’s Prayer:

O Lord, we confess our mixed feelings about darkness and light. Sometimes we like darkness-when we wish to hide. Sometimes we fear the light for what it might reveal in us. Sometimes we fear the darkness because we don’t trust You to walk with us through it. Help us, Lord, to long for Your light, not only to guide us, but even to reveal to us the truth. AMEN

I know this one was really long, but man what a message. I loved doing this study. You guys and gals have a blessed day and may God bless each and every one of you!

Josh

[christsavedme]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

Camping With Jesus

From Outdoors With God

By Lance Moore

Today’s Scripture:

“(Jesus) said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” Mark 6:31-32

Face Time With The Savior

Wouldn’t it be great to receive a personal invitation from Jesus to go away with Him “by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”? The twelve disciples were called to follow Jesus on a three-year camping trip. They went by foot, carried very few provisions, and usually slept under the stars. At times the conditions were unpleasant, though often they were able to find shelter in the home of a supporter. But the disciples did not know how fortunate they were to have three years of one-on-one time with Jesus-the rare privilege of camping out with the Christ, God in the flesh.

Camping Is Always Intense!

(“In Tents,” Get It?)

If you really want to get to know someone, share a tent with him or her. If your camp mate is a fine and loving person, you will enjoy the camp out; and you will grow to love that person even more (assuming you are somewhat loving yourself!) If your camp mate is obnoxious, petty, and self-centered, you will find out that out on a camping trip, as well. Spend some time “camping” with Jesus, and you’ll learn more about the most loving person in the universe. Let me suggest two ways to actually do this while on a camping expedition.

Your Camping Assignment

The two pillars of personal spiritual discipline are prayer and Bible study. Bringing these with you into the camping environment can be powerful, offering a deeper dimension to your spiritual experience. First, try open-eyed praying. This means to speak with and listen to Jesus with our spiritual ears while our physical eyes feast on the cornucopia of God’s creation. Psalm 19:1-2 urges us in this regard: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge” of God. Take a close-up look at the simple beauty of a grain of sand glinting in the sunshine, but don’t try counting each grain on the creek bank…..Just revel in the fact that each one has been created by God to be as unique as a fingerprint. Or, while still praying, study the intricate tapestry of a veined maple leaf, which God has imbued with thousands of tiny cellular factories, each capable of converting a few rays of light into chemicals that eventually may become maple syrup. When nightfalls, put out your campfire, lay your head back, and gaze at the stars, constellations, and galaxies. Consider how vast is the black depth and how uncountable are its fiery orbs, and then realize how the mere fingertip of God can cover it all. As Job 12:10 puts it, “In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

A Guard Against Idolatry

Since ancient times and continuing to our current day, pagans have worshipped nature itself. Our purpose is not to make nature an idol, not to replace the Creator with a beautiful object of creation. By praying in the name of Christ and keeping our primary focus on God, we guard against this naturalistic heresy while still allowing God to speak to us through His handiwork.

Our second exercise, reading Scripture outdoors, also helps guard against becoming as the pagans who, as Paul warned, “exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25). If I stood atop the Rocky Mountains and gazed at their sheer size, I might understand why Native Americans worshipped the mountains themselves; but if I read Psalm 102, my worship is rightly returned to God. Verse 25 proclaims, “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” When I look closely at a flower and marvel at its complex symmetry and vivid color, I might read this passage from Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” I can revel in the rich beauty of a meadow filled with green grass and dotted with purple wildflowers, but all that glory is put in perspective when I read 1 Peter 1:24, “ All mean are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall…” Scripture alone has the power to truly humble us while proclaiming the majesty of God.

The Psalms are perfect for reading for your “nature camping trip with Jesus” assignment, filled as they are with wilderness scenes. Even Scripture without allusion to the beauty of nature takes on new power when read outdoors. However, you will be surprised at how much of the Bible is set in the great outdoors, from mountains, deserts, and valleys of the Old Testament to riverside baptisms and agrarian parables in the Gospels. One of the most important lessons from Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, was delivered outdoors and is dappled with outdoor allusions, such as “the birds of the air,” “the lilies of the field,” fruit trees, rocks and rainstorms. I offer this-Matthew 5,6,and 7-as a perfect beginning for this experiment. Preferably, find a high mount and read “the Sermon on the Mount” aloud to your forest audience. (Okay, you think I’m nuts. But the famous Catholic priest Frances of Assisi regularly preached to the birds and squirrels, and they made him a saint!) Even if you just read silently, you will never again view these Scriptures one-dimensionally.

So pack your Bible and your sleeping bag and go, literally, to camp with Jesus.

Today’s Prayer

O Creator God, Your reveal Yourself to us in nature. You reveal Yourself even more fully in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Help us to know you better by spending time with You in prayer and Bible study, both indoors and out. AMEN

Well once again I am posting my favorites from this book, not real sure what I am going to post after that, but I can guarentee that I will do my best to daily come here. I have been getting alot out of doing this daily. The last couple of days have been tough since I am back at work. Anyways, Hope you all have an abosolutely amazing day and may God bless each and everyone of you!

Josh

[christsavedme]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

Cookout With Jesus

Taken from Outdoors With God

By Lance Moore

Today’s Scripture:

“When the disciples landed their boat on the shore of the Lake of Galilee, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught…Come and have breakfast.” John 21:9-10,12

Church Means Eats

We modern churchgoers would have done well back in New Testament times-it seems they, like us, were always eating. We have church potluck suppers; and in a sense, the early disciples did too. Think of how many crucial events in the Gospels coincided with eating-the feeding of the five thousand, the argument between Mary and Martha before dinner, Zaccheus’s life-changing meal with Jesus, the parable of the wedding banquet, the upper room Lord’s Supper, the lakeside grilled breakfast with Jesus after His resurrection.

Supper’s Ready!

And no wonder. Aren’t mealtimes the things we remember best? I remember so many special things happening at mealtime. I remember the sound of my mother yelling from the back porch to us kids, “Supper’s ready!” I remember how special it seemed, too, to eat out in a restaurant. I can still taste my first oysters at Wintzell’s Oyster House in Mobile, where the walls and ceiling were covered with humorous sayings and jokes. I remember family reunions. I remember good times with friends around a pizza and the first dinner date with my then wife-to-be. I remember the last Thanksgiving meal I had with my mother, because she died just a few days before our next Thanksgiving.

I remember the time in seminary when we were invited to the home of a Korean student. It was an odd meal. They had chopsticks yet were courteous to give each of us a fork, but no knife! I wondered how we would eat the steak. My Korean friend, Mr. Kang, picked up his whole steak with the chopsticks and began gnawing on the bone like a chipmunk. I had to ask for a knife. They had no knives-that’s right, not a knife in the house. So Mrs. Kang brought a pair of scissors and cut our steak into little pieces like a kid cutting out paper dolls. You can bet I’ll never forget that meal!

Remember

You’ve had meals you will remember all your life. But that is not what I want you to recall right now. Instead, think about the significance of Jesus’ words at that Passover supper with His disciples, when He told them, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” In effect He was saying, “Let the memories of this meal come back to you every time you share the bread and the wine of communion together. Remember.”

They did not know the intense emotion of this memory would later hold for them. In a matter of hours, Jesus was betrayed. Taken prisoner. Interrogated. Tortured. Nailed to a cross. His blood, poured out just as He had said it would be, when He poured the wine. His body, broken open by a spear, just as He had warned when He broke the bread. Imagine how the disciples felt when they went to their homes after the Crucifixion and sat down to eat a supper of bread and wine. Supper would never be the same again.

And Jesus told us, through parables, that the Passover supper was only a rehearsal for a meal yet to come-the grand and glorious banquet, the wedding feast for Christ and His Church, the day when we will sit down at the gate of the New Jerusalem to share a most amazing dinner.

Fish and Grill

Jesus hinted to this in His post resurrection meal beside the Sea of Galilee. After Jesus had been crucified and His disciples were disheartened and confused, they did a wise thing-they went back fishing. Anytime we face trauma in life, a smart therapeutic practice to return to the most familiar and routine aspects of our lives as they were before the trauma, if that is possible. Or just go fishing, Jesus walked down quietly to the sandy shore and started a fire. After telling the apostles where to catch the most fish, Jesus returned to His role of servant. He carefully prepared a meal for them with His own hands-an outdoor, charcoal grilled cookout. Then Jesus challenged Peter, “Do you love Me?” Then “Feed my sheep.” And finally, “Follow me!” When Jesus had first called Peter, He had said, “Follow me,” and it was a command, an introduction into three years of service and hardship. Now, as Jesus spoke about death and afterlife and prepared Himself for ascension to life with Jesus beyond earthly death.

We are all invited to what the angels of heaven call “the wedding supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). That true last supper isn’t ready yet. But it’s being prepared. Jesus set the table on that first Maundy Thursday, nearly two thousand years ago. He said then, “Drink of this, all of you.” And in Revelation 3:20, John saw a vision of Christ proclaiming, ‘”I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”’

When Jesus set the table on Passover eve, He was already, in His mind, setting the future table for you and me in the New Heaven that is to come. And He is knocking on your door, inviting you to that last/first supper in heaven-a cookout with Jesus. He’s even preparing the food. I can almost hear my mother calling, “Suppers ready!”

Today’s Prayer

Our Father, you are our provider. You are the bread of life. We thank you for preparing my meal for us in heaven. May we never be so full of earthly food that we fail to hungrily anticipate that glorious wedding banquet in your coming kingdom. In Jesus’ Name…AMEN

Hello once again all my RT brothers and sisters. I hope this finds you having a great Friday. Hope you all have a blessed weekend and God bless!

[buckee]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

Your posts are a real blessing Josh

[christsavedme]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

[ QUOTE ]

Your posts are a real blessing Josh

[/ QUOTE ]

I am glad that you enjoy the post! And I pray everyday that God gives me the pleasure of posting these devotions that they touch someone out there. I pray that someone that is going through that hard and trying time in their life might stumble across this room and find something in here that speaks directly to them.

The thing is....I get alot out of doing this. As I type each of these.....I grow spiritually as well. I mature in my Christian walk.

So I will try to daily post here. I know that some days I won't get to, but I will try! And the good Lord willing, someone will benefit. May God bless you all!

[christsavedme]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

All Good Things Happen At Sunrise

From The Sportsman’s Bible

Have you ever noticed that sunrise seems to be the best time of day for just about anything? Turkeys tend to gobble more in the early morning than any other time of day. Whitetails are wary creatures, but the early morning seems to find them moving around the woods. In the early morning mallards get moving. Fish feed all day, but often they seem more active in the dawning light.

Sunrise is a magical time for any hunter. It’s a new day. Those moments at sunrise have their own sense of mystery. Preparation is over because the hunt is on! You are sharp. Ready. Even a little edgy. Truth be told, if you want to up your odds at getting close to the critters you love to hunt, then sunrise is often your best bet.

Perhaps this thing of sunrise is no accident. The greatest event ever taking place in human history happened at sunrise . . . we call it the Resurrection!

Read Luke chapter 24 for yourself and see. Jesus defeated sin and death and rose again from the grave.

Understand that the resurrection is the most exclusive claim of Christianity. Jesus is the only “god” that ever had the power to beat death and ****. How can this be? He was who He said He was. God in the flesh. God in real human form. The resurrection assures the believer of certain victory. The resurrection presents a new day every day. Think of that the next time you see the sunrise!

Hope you all have had a blessed weekend and are starting your week off with a blast. May God bless each and every one of you!

Josh

[christsavedme]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

In The Valley Of Shadows

From Outdoors With God

By Lance Moore

Today’s Scriptures:

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me….Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm 23:4,6

“What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” Philippians 1:12-14

Crisis Creates Character

Many people have said something to the effect of, “I found God in the darkest valleys of my life.” Me too. The message of this book has been that God is found everywhere, especially out in the beauty of nature. Nearly three thousand years ago, the psalmist saw that God could be found both in the darkest valleys and in the beautiful green meadows. Perhaps while reclined on a grassy hillside looking down into the shadows of the valley, David wrote that the Lord is like a shepherd who walks with his sheep through the shaded places where predators crouch. And ever since, many of us have found that in the face of darkness and even death, we sense God’s presence more vividly.

We also know that good often comes to us out of life’s adversities. In the 1960’s, a psychologist named Robert Coles completed an in depth scientific study on stress. His data showed that stress and conflict greatly increase one’s growth and personal development. We didn’t really need science to tell us what life has already taught. Crisis creates character.

Knowing this, however, does not make us welcome trouble nor does it free us from a fear of life’s shadows. Crisis may build character, but impending trouble can breed fear. And fear can be destructive. Usually our nightmares and worries about life are worse than the problems themselves. We are all too much like the patient diagnosed with ulcers. After the doctor explained that often ulcers are the result of worry, he asked, “What have you been so anxious about?” The patient replied, “I kept worrying I’d get an ulcer.” It is often not the actual crisis that hurts us; instead, what really intimidate us are the towering imaginary monsters that fear has created in our own minds.

The Shepherd Psalm is a good antidote for that fear. When faced with trouble, we should repeat to ourselves, “Though things look dark, I shall not fear, for God is with me.” The Shepherd’s Habit is an even greater antidote.

The Shepherd’s Habit

David practiced turning his fear over to God by looking to God’s presence in the outdoors. When Goliath threatened to make mincemeat of the young shepherd boy, David thought back to times in the wilderness when God had been with him to successfully battle the lion and the bear. When King Saul chased David with a spear, he retreated to the hills. As he contemplated the vast power and beauty of God evidence in creation, David found comfort and refuge. We can do something similar. When your boss yells at you, go sit by a tumbling brook and listen to the soothing sounds of the water. You might hear God’s voice in it. When disagreements with your family or friends loom large, stand on a mountain and take a good look at something much bigger than your problems. When you lose a loved one to death, go out and gaze at the stars…It may be the closest you can come to seeing eternal life. When your creditors call you and you wonder how you will pay your overdue bills, look at the birds in the trees outside and hear the words of Jesus: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear….Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26). The great outdoors holds great power over problems.

The Prisoner’s Plan

St Paul also gives us guidance through our dark valleys. Paul suggested to the Philippians that they actually had control over a crisis. No, we don’t control everything that happens to us. But we can control far more than we admit. We are too quick to blame bad luck for our own failures. Even when we are innocent victims of calamity, Paul argues that we can still fully control our response to crisis. And he should know. Paul, chained in prison, alone, cold, hungry, proclaimed: “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12), and “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12). Paul also boasted in his letters to the Philippians that his imprisonment had afforded him a new ministry-to prisoners and guards. The Living Bible renders his words this way: “Because of my imprisonment many of the Christians here seem to have lost their fear of chains!” (Philippians 1:14). What a difference one’s point of view makes! Paul saw his crisis as an opportunity and, in so doing, freed others of their fears.

When we say the word “crisis,” we usually think of catastrophe, calamity, something awful. That’s not really what the word means. The dictionary defines it as a turning point for good or bad. In the original Greek, the word “crisis” came from the word for decision or judgment. In Chinese, the symbols for crisis (wei ji) are also used as the symbols for opportunity.

So a crisis is, literally, an opportunity for positive change. We can choose to face adversity with either hope or despair, just as we can walk the valley of shadows with or with out God.

Actually, you can’t choose to walk without God; God will be there in the valley whether you recognize Him or not, whether you follow God’s guidance or stumble blindly down your own path.

The Christian life does not remove the darkness, but it does offer a light in the darkness, a presence and power in the midst of the valley of evil. Look again at how David words it: “Even though I walk through dark valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (emphasis mine). For me that is enough.

Today’s Prayer:

Gracious Shepherd, even though I walk through the valleys in my life, I will continue to rejoice in You, for I am confident of this one thing. That through your help, all that happens to me will turn my deliverance. IN Christ Name…Amen

Everyone have a blessed day!

Josh

[HarvDog]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

Mind if I share one?

THE SCARS OF LIFE

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.

He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.

Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because! my Dad wouldn't let go."

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.

The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.

[Guest bexar_county89]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

wow, harvdog, how humbling and its so true, Christ teaches us that no matter how far we sink, and no matter the hold sin has on us, he will never let go of us!! i think i'm gonna havta start reading this post more often!!!!

[coles]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

in case yall didnt see in the lounge my post to pray for my grandma well here it is again. my grandma down in texas just found out today that she has terminal lung cancer and she has been given 8-12 months to live and they are starting chemo tomorrow. so hopefully it slows the cancer down. she has only had it and it has already covered her liver and has a little in her lungs but it is going to spread fast. so if you could keep her in your prayers it would be very much appreciated. thanks.

cole

[preacherman]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

she is indeed in our thoughts Coles

[Guest bexar_county89]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

I'm reading a book called Come Thirsty by Max Lucado and I wanted to share an exert with ya'll:

Over a hundred years ago, a group of men were relaxing in the dining room of a Scottish seaside inn, trading fish stories. One of the men gestured widely, depicting the size of a fish that got away. HIs arm struck the serving maid's tea tray, sending the teapot flying into the whitewashed wall, where its contents left an irregular brown splotch.

The innkeeper surveyed the damage and sighed, "The whole wall will have to be repainted." "Perhaps not." offered a stranger. "Let me work with it." Having nothing to lose, the proprietor consented. The man pulled pencils, brushes, some jars of linseed oil, and pigment out of an art box. He sketched lines around the stains and dabbed shades and colors throughout the splashes of tea. In time, an image began to emerge: a stag with a great rack of antlers. The man inscribed his signature at the bottom, paid for his meal and left. His name: Sir Edwin Landseer, famous painter of wildlife.

In his hands, a mistake became a masterpiece.

I like to think about that whenever I feel that I've failed God in some way. Hope ya'll enjoyed that.

[DWC]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

this a great site thanks too all of ya who keep it going

[christsavedme]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

The Spiritual Superiority of Dogs

by John Fischer

“Cat got your tongue?” No, but she sure did get my printer.

Yesterday was one of those days I just wish I could delete. First I found out my laptop was on the blink. Then my wife had to print up some important job-related documents and I couldn’t get the printer to respond. I couldn’t even get it to power up. Opening the front cover, I discovered a small yellowish puddle inside. One whiff told me exactly what had happened. Our cat had turned the printer into a litter box.

Now this is exactly what I don’t like about cats. You rub them the wrong way and they never forget it. And, as I found out yesterday, they can make you pay big time. I already know this cat has certain grievances against me, but I certainly didn’t think it would come to this. This was purely intentional. This was not the case of a mistaken litter box; it was clearly premeditated malcontent. This cat is definitely upset and she knows how to hit where it hurts.

This is what I like about dogs, by the way. They have such a short memory. One good pat on the head and all is forgotten. Smart-alecky cat… dumb and dumber dog... give me the dumb dog any day!

Spiritual growth requires that we leave grudges behind. What we harbor in the heart will eventually come out, and when it does, it can be pretty ugly, and very destructive, like the cat deposit in my printer.

Jesus once said, "What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean'" (Mark 7:21-23 NIV).

If someone has wronged you and you are bent on revenge, think about the old family dog and how she just wags her tail and rejoices in whatever attention anyone is interested in giving her. She just doesn’t hold onto anything very long, and believe me, she’s a lot happier for it.

So I took my laptop into the Apple Doctor and when he heard the gattling gun sound upon start-up, he immediately asked, “Did you spill anything on your keyboard?”

Uh oh…

Haven't posted here in a couple of days, so thought I would share one today. Gotta get started back posting daily. Makes my day go better. Work has been tough lately.

Hope you all have a blessed day and may God bless!

Josh

[christsavedme]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

Things to Remember

“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalm 119:165

“Acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you” Job 22:21

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guide your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:2

Scatter the clouds that hide

The face of heaven, and show

Where sweet peace doth abide,

Where truth and Beauty grow.

-Robert Seymour Bridges

Joy is like restless day; but peace divine

Like quiet night;

Lead me, O Lord, till perfect Day shall shine

Through Peace to Light.

-Adelaide Anne Procter

Just a couple of quotes and scriptures to hopefully get your day going!

Hope you all have a blessed day and may God bless each and everyone of you!

Josh

[AaronS]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

I received this in an email and it reminded me of this thread we have here. I thought I would share.

The Parable of the Spoon

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and **** are like."

The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen ****."

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.

There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water.

The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, "I don't understand."

It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other."

[Guest bexar_county89]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

Wow, INBowhunter, I really like that!!!! Thank you very much for sharing!!!

[spyderpancake]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

I heard this this morning and thought i would share it.

Too many times the world wants to go to church to be told how good they are, instead of how wicked and sinful they are. How much sense would it make to go to a docter and him tell you that everything is great, when you have a huge cancer eating away at you? The same is true with preaching. If your sins are not being pointed out to you and all you hear is how good you are and how to be successful, then you are under a poor watchman who cares nothing for his sheep. He is nothing but a yes man who is in it for numbers or money. Get under a pastor who skins your hide every once in a while and won't let you be comfortable with your "secret sins"!

[christsavedme]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

Haven't been posting that much in here lately. But here is something that I just wanted to share with all of you!

August 18, 2005

Is it ever okay to look back?

by John Fischer

Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God. Luke 9:62 (NLT)

Is it ever okay to look back?

There is a fine line between gaining strength from how God has met us in the past, and getting lost in romanticized states of nostalgia. It’s not always easy to tell the difference.

Last weekend I had a chance to go back to a camp where I began my singing/songwriting career and experienced serving in a ministry role for the first time. It is a place pregnant with memories for me. These memories were also from time of heightened spiritual awareness in our culture that we now refer to as the Jesus movement. A whole youth culture it seemed was literally flying high on Jesus. Nothing has come close to those days since.

After the concert a man came up to me and handed me a CD. It was a tape recording of me singing my first collection of songs made in the stairwell of a church nearby in the summer of 1968. I say “allegedly” because I barely remember doing this. I took the CD home and listened to it and it was me all right. Songs and feelings both forgotten came rushing back.

What value is this to me now? Not much if I attempt to stay there. It was almost hard to hear the angst in the heart of a 21-year-old that seemed so far away now. It made me wonder if some things are not meant to be recorded.

But there is meaning and usefulness in the past. It comes through returning to places and times when God has met us is significant ways. In the Old Testament these were called memorial stones – altars erected so that God’s faithfulness at a certain event in history could be remembered and the stories passed on to future generations. Such a visit to the past gives us renewed strength and courage to face the future. If God met us then and got us this far, then He can show us how to live in this present age.

But if we go back to try and recreate the past and hold onto it as long as possible, this is not productive. We never will be able to go back to an earlier time. Plows don’t plow backwards. They only dig ahead into open fields. So do God’s purposes for us.

So if you go back, go back to mark something meaningful in your life, where God met you, and use the experience to renew your current love for Him. Just don’t stay long there. The demands of today are different than those of yesterday, and the world never stops changing.

Hope you all have a blessed day, and may God bless each and every one of you!

[Guest bexar_county89]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

Wow. Some things you guys have posted have hit home. Answers really. But I have a question you guys maybe able to answer.

All of my friends say that they are christians and that they are walking in God's ways, but alot of the times, they talk bad about other people who think they are our friends. I've been trying to make them realize how fake they are being, but i can't do any good!! I love all of my friends even those who bad mouth the others, and i wanna help. Do ya'll have any advice for me, please?

[AaronS]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

bexar_county, I was getting ready to post this email that I got this morning when I read your question. I think it might be a useful tool for you.

-------------------------

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says that Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons.

One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day.

On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture.

Sally's friend drew a picture of who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target. Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall.

Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced.

Dr. Smith said only these words... "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me."

Matthew 25:40.

No other words were necessary; the tears filled eyes of the students focused only on the picture of Christ.

Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to ****.

Isn't it funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the! Bible says.

Isn't it funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, think, say, or do anything the Bible says. Or is it scary?

Isn't it funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan (who, by the way, also "believes" in God ).

Isn't it funny how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Isn't it funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyber space, but the public discussion of Jesus is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Isn't it funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday, but be an invisible Christian the rest of the week.

Are you laughing?

Isn't it funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them.....or will you?

Isn't it funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me.

Will YOU pass this on? ... I did

[Guest bexar_county89]

Re: A Christian Hunter\'s Devotions and Studies

here I found a pretty good one:

READ THIS. LET IT REALLY SINK IN. THEN CHOOSE.

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood

and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how

he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the

employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and

asked him, "I don't get it!

You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two

choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or . you can choose

to be in a bad mood.%