Fwd: Harvest Daily Devotion for 6/24/2009: "The Problem of Pain"

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 The Problem of Pain And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose — Romans 8:28 Today's devotion is adapted from a recent post on Greg's Blog. To read Pastor Greg's latest blog entry, click here. In the wrap-up to His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told a story about two men who built two homes. They may have been at the same time and close to together. They might have even had the same floor plan. One of the builders, however, erected his home on shifting sand, while the other built his home on a stable rock foundation. Then the storms came, with wind and driving rain hitting both of those houses—hard! The house that had been built on sand collapsed and fell in upon itself, while the one built on the rock stood firm. The obvious moral of the story is to build your life on a foundation that will last, like the one we find in the pages of God's Word. But here's an application we sometimes miss. The storm came to both lives. The wind beat on both houses. The rain poured on both building sites. The man who was wise and carefully chose a stable foundation got hit with the same hurricane-force winds as the man who foolishly took shortcuts and didn't bother to plan ahead. No one is exempt We will all experience storms in life. Good things will happen to us, as well as tragic and inexplicable things. Every life will have its share of pain. As much as we would like to believe otherwise, none of us can take an extended vacation beyond the reach of human suffering and tragedy. Former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli summed up life in this pessimistic way: "Youth is a mistake. Manhood is a struggle. And old age a regret." I understand Disraeli's pessimism, but allow me to offer another answer. God is in control of the life of the Christian and can actually bring good out of bad. That is what the Bible teaches, and that is what I believe. That's not to say that God will make bad into good, because bad is bad. But it is to say that good can come out of bad. As Romans 8:28 affirms: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." A better translation would be, "He is causing all things to work and to continue working together for good." Life is a process and, as finite beings who live moment to moment, we can't see around the bend. We can't discern God's ultimate purposes. But we can know this: He is watching and caring, in control and loving us with an everlasting love. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him! Greg@harvest.org Want to read more from Greg Laurie? Be sure to check out his weekly columns at World Net Daily. Click here to read his latest article. Copyright ©2009 by Harvest Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000 Today's Radio Program: "The Cost of Discipleship - I" Read the Word: Today--Deuteronomy 22 How to Know God Devotion Archives Live Services Pastor Greg's Blog Greg's Personal Site You are receiving this daily mailing because you signed-up to do so on Harvest.org. If you no longer want to receive this mailing, or if you wish to subscribe/unsubscribe from other Harvest Ministries mailings, please visit our e-mail subscription management page. Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514-4000 Phone: 1-800-821-3300

Celebrate Disney

This past Sunday, Mark and I, Don and RJ spent the day at the Disneyland Resort. It was a splendid time enjoying the rides. Mark and I also found a new hobby...pin trading!

It was a wonderful time! Dreams do come true at the magical kingdom!

Fwd: Harvest Daily Devotion for 6/22/2009: "A Lifelong Battle"

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Greg Laurie" <GregLaurie@harvestdirect.org>

Date: June 22, 2009 1:00:00 AM PDT

To: Ervin Aquino <Aquinoervin@aol.com>

Subject: Harvest Daily Devotion for 6/22/2009: "A Lifelong Battle"

Monday, June 22, 2009 A Lifelong Battle You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. — 2 Timothy 2:3 Today's devotion is adapted from a recent post on Greg's Blog. To read Pastor Greg's latest blog entry, click here. Without question, the Christian life is the greatest life you could ever live. And why is that? I can't even count all the ways! God takes a life that was empty, aimless, and headed toward certain judgment, and turns it around and transforms it. He forgives us of all of our sin, and if that wasn't enough, credits the very righteousness of Jesus Christ into our spiritual bank account. He removes all of our guilt, and fills the void in our lives with Himself, as He literally takes up residence in the very center of who we are. Most importantly, He changes our eternal address from a place called hell to a place called heaven. This all comes as a result of the power of the gospel proclaimed and believed. And when we do believe, we are gifted with a new desire to glorify God with our lives. It's absolutely true that when you trust Christ as Savior, God removes a whole set of problems you used to have—including the nagging guilt and that empty sense of aimlessness in life that used to haunt you. But we need to understand that there will be a whole new set of problems that will take the place of your old problems. That is because the day that you put your trust in Jesus Christ, you enter into a battle that will last for the rest of your life. Why? Because not only is there a God who loves you and has a plan for your life, there is also a devil who hates you, and fiercely opposes God's plan. Some are surprised to find that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. And that is why the apostle Paul said, "Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3) Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him! Greg@harvest.org Want to read more from Greg Laurie? Be sure to check out his weekly columns at World Net Daily. Click here to read his latest article. Copyright ©2009 by Harvest Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000 Today's Radio Program: "What Is Discipleship - I" Read the Word: Today--Deuteronomy 20 How to Know God Devotion Archives Live Services Pastor Greg's Blog Greg's Personal Site You are receiving this daily mailing because you signed-up to do so on Harvest.org. If you no longer want to receive this mailing, or if you wish to subscribe/unsubscribe from other Harvest Ministries mailings, please visit our e-mail subscription management page. Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514-4000 Phone: 1-800-821-3300

Ervin Aquino

aquinoervin@aol.com

Lawn in the Sky

Before hanging out with everyone else, Mark and I decided to just get away from the city and escape to the lawn at the Griffith Observatory. It was a nice weather for a change, and was wonderful just the laying down and relaxing. Good times!

I love these moments!

Fwd: Harvest Daily Devotion for 6/17/2009: "The Witness of the Holy Spirit"

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 The Witness of the Holy Spirit It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. — John 6:63 Remember the day the Holy Spirit shined His light in your heart and showed you that you were a sinner? You thought you were an okay person, but suddenly the Holy Spirit began to convict you of your sin. It was the Holy Spirit who brought about that change in your heart. Jesus said, " 'Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit' " (John 3:5–6). Not only does the Holy Spirit bring about the work of conversion, but after it has taken place—after Christ has come into your heart—the Holy Spirit personally gives you the assurance that you are a believer. As Romans 8:16 says, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." As a result, you can have the inner conviction and witness of the Holy Spirit that you are a child of God. And as part of this wonderful work of conversion, the Bible also teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells us. Romans 8:11 tells us, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." God is not asking you to do the impossible. He will give you the power to live the Christian life. With the Holy Spirit empowering you—and as you yield to Him—you can live this life that God has called you to live. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him! Greg@harvest.org Want to read more from Greg Laurie? Be sure to check out his weekly columns at World Net Daily. Click here to read his latest article. Copyright ©2009 by Harvest Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000 Today's Radio Program: "What Angers and Saddens God - I" Read the Word: Today--Deuteronomy 15 How to Know God Devotion Archives Live Services Pastor Greg's Blog Greg's Personal Site You are receiving this daily mailing because you signed-up to do so on Harvest.org. If you no longer want to receive this mailing, or if you wish to subscribe/unsubscribe from other Harvest Ministries mailings, please visit our e-mail subscription management page. Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514-4000 Phone: 1-800-821-3300

Ervin Aquino

aquinoervin@aol.com