Who are the people and what are the situations when the best you can do is to tolerate them?

How can you experience G.o.d's love more deeply? What difference will it make?

"I am doing 'better than good' because I love the unlovable and give hope to the helpless, friendship to the friendless, and encouragement to the discouraged."-ZIG ZIGLAR

June.

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JUNE 1.

MORE THAN WE THINK.

To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory.

EPHESIANS 3:20-21.

OUR G.o.d, AS THE SONG SAYS, is an awesome G.o.d. There is nothing-literally nothing-that is impossible for Him. As we look through the annals of Scripture, we see G.o.d doing many amazing things. He directed Noah to build a boat and then sent a worldwide flood to judge the earth. He promised Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and He produced the first child of that promise from an aged couple far past their prime. G.o.d directed Gideon to get rid of almost all his men before they went into battle against overwhelming odds. He sent fire from heaven to burn up the sacrifice and moat to reveal Himself to Elijah and rebuke the prophets of Baal.

The Gospels give us volumes of miracles. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed lepers, and changed hearts over and over again. Wherever He went, miracles followed Him.

But what about now, and what about you and me? Does G.o.d still work in the same way? G.o.d is still in the business of revealing His love and power. Sometimes He works physical miracles, but more often, He works the miracle of redemption in individuals' hearts and the miracle of restoration in broken relationships. G.o.d's power and purpose haven't changed. He still can-and will-do far more than we can ask or think.

What amazing things have you seen that can be attributed to G.o.d?

What are you trusting Him to do in your life now?

"Abraham Maslow observed that 'the story of the human race is men and women selling themselves short.' The story of too many Christians is selling G.o.d short."-IKE REIGHARD "If a man can take moldy bread and make penicillin, imagine what G.o.d can do with you."-ZIG ZIGLAR

JUNE 2.

WHEN LIFE OVERWHELMS YOU.

Immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

MATTHEW 14:27.

WE DON'T GET INTO TROUBLE only because we've made stupid mistakes. Sometimes, G.o.d allows difficulties in our lives so He can remind us of how much we need Him. One day, Jesus told His men to take a boat across the lake while He went up the mountain to pray. Late at night, the men still hadn't reached the sh.o.r.e, and a storm blew up. Several of them were experienced fishermen who had been in countless storms, but this time, they knew they were in big trouble! They thought they'd drown.

In the middle of the raging waves and howling wind, they could faintly see a figure walking on the water toward them. The fear of drowning suddenly paled next to the fear of being visited by a ghost. But it wasn't a ghost. It was Jesus! Jesus, the flesh-and-blood Son of G.o.d approached them. He must have had a smile on His face when He told them, "Be of good cheer, guys! It's Me. There's no need to be afraid."

From time to time, we feel overwhelmed by storms in our lives too. Sometimes they occur because we've made dumb mistakes and we're experiencing the consequences, but sometimes they occur because we've followed G.o.d's leading. Either way, Jesus reminds us that storms aren't an obstacle to Him at all. He will provide for us, and His presence will cheer us up.

What are some storms you've experienced in the past few years?

How will it help you next time (or this time) to know that Jesus is never overwhelmed by storms?

"The center of G.o.d's will is our only safety."-BETSIE TEN BOOM

JUNE 3.

THE WELL OF THE HEART.

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

MATTHEW 15:11.

IN JESUS' DAY, people were more particular about foods than a conference of dieters! They had rules about what you could eat and what you couldn't eat, and they had rules about the rules. They were convinced that the food people ate could bless them or ruin them, but Jesus turned their thinking upside down. He told them that what goes into their mouths isn't as important as what comes out of them. Our words reveal the content of our hearts, and our words have the power to create or to destroy, to heal or to hurt.

Most of us think very little about our communication, even with those we love the most. We've developed habits of saying the same things in the same ways to the same people, and these habits seem to work well enough. But do they? We need to be more intentional about the words we say to one another. Healing messages say, "I love you," "I'm proud of you," and "You're really good at that!" Critical words cut like a knife. And sarcasm is the same knife with a pearl handle. Silence, too, can be just as deadly because a person's self-doubt often fills the emptiness.

Words reveal what's in our hearts. If what spills out is too often negative, biting, caustic, or sarcastic, we need to ask G.o.d to fill the well with faith, hope, and love so that positive words come out by the bucketful.

Think of the conversations you've had in the past day. How would you describe the content of your words?

What changes do you need to make in your communication, especially with those you love?

"What comes out of your mouth is determined by what goes into your mind."-ZIG ZIGLAR

JUNE 4.

FROM HERO TO ZERO.

[Jesus] turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of G.o.d, but the things of men."

MATTHEW 16:23.

YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE PETER. In one of the most significant moments in Jesus' life, He had asked His followers if they knew who He really was. Peter spoke up and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living G.o.d" (Matthew 16:16). Very good, Pete.

But only a moment later, Jesus explained that His role as the Christ was to suffer at the hands of religious leaders and be put to death. When Jesus spoke those words, Peter interrupted, "No way that's going to happen to You!" (see Matthew 16:22). So Jesus put him in his place.

The ways of G.o.d are sometimes very different from what we can imagine. In fact, they can be the polar opposite of what we think is good and right and fair. For Jesus, the Father's path led Him to betrayal and the Cross, and then to a glorious resurrection. In the same way, G.o.d may lead us through dark times in our lives before we come out into the light. If we fight against Him, we earn His correction, but if we trust that He will eventually lead us into the light, we can walk with Him even in the darkest moments of our lives.

Arguing with Him may be natural, but it's counterproductive. Just ask Peter.

Have you ever said, "No way!" to G.o.d about a path where He was leading you?

What are some situations in your life today in which you need to trust G.o.d to lead you out of darkness into light?

"G.o.d's will is what every one of us would choose if we had all of G.o.d's facts."-IKE REIGHARD

JUNE 5.

THE FAITH OF A CHILD.

Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of [the disciples], and said, "a.s.suredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

MATTHEW 18:2-3.

IN JESUS' DAY, children were not the epicenter of family life. To the surprise of everyone gathered around Him one day, Jesus called a child to come over and sit with Him. He pointed to the little child and said to the adults, "You need to become like this little guy."

Jesus wasn't suggesting that adults should act like immature kids. No, the message is about faith, not age. Children have a simple faith. They believe because someone in authority tells them something is true. They don't overa.n.a.lyze, and they don't get bogged down in all the what-ifs. They take things at face value, which is how Jesus wants us to take Him.

Children also gladly receive gifts without second-guessing or feeling guilty. At Christmas, many adults carefully unwrap presents to save the wrapping paper, but kids tear into them with reckless abandon! In the same way, Jesus wants us to receive the gifts He gives us (forgiveness, adoption into G.o.d's family, promises, truth, and so forth) with unfettered gratefulness.

Immaturity isn't something to aspire to, but childlike faith is a valuable commodity in G.o.d's Kingdom. We can be so complicated, full of questions and doubts and excuses for not believing. But we can begin where the disciples began that day, listening, watching, and marveling at the lesson Jesus taught, and we can ask Him to produce that childlike faith in us, too.

Describe a childlike faith. Is it attractive to you? Why or why not?

Take some time to ask G.o.d to give you that kind of faith in Him.

"G.o.d sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves."-D. L. MOODY

JUNE 6.

A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

MATTHEW 18:6.

WHEREVER HE WENT, Jesus was the champion of outcasts and the oppressed. Yes, we know that "G.o.d is love" and that Jesus was tender and kind, but His love made Him fierce in defense of the helpless. The Gospels contain some of the most dramatic verbal battles in literature, and almost without exception, Jesus fought against the powerful and the proud to protect the powerless and the poor.

We often focus on Jesus' promises to give us an abundant life, peace, and joy, but He delivered stern warnings, too. To make Himself crystal clear, He said that those who mislead, wound, or take advantage of helpless people-in this case, children-would suffer G.o.d's righteous, fierce justice. In comparison to G.o.d's punishment, it would be better if abusers were drowned in the ocean!

Does this warning have anything to do with us? Yes, whenever we find ourselves in a position of power, we need to heed Christ's warning. When we relate to children (our own or others'), poor people, displaced people, employees who serve under us, or anyone else over whom we exercise authority, that relationship is a sacred trust. We report directly to G.o.d for our att.i.tudes and behavior, and He isn't thrilled if we abuse those under us, ignore them, use them for selfish gain, make jokes at their expense, or take them for granted.