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Days of Our Youth

By Steve T. on August 1, 2013

All through the Old Testament, God called the people of Israel to worship Him as the One True God. He spoke through Moses, the priests, and the prophets, but the people continued to turn away. Even after the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem, God continued to call His Children to return to Him – to return with ALL their heart!

During the Babylonian captivity, God told Ezekiel to proclaim His Word to all the people of Israel. Ezekiel gave the people several illustrations of how far they had fallen, and how much sorrow their sin was causing for a loving Father. Through Ezekiel, God said the people of Israel were like a helpless newborn baby who had been thrown into an open field; “Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, ‘Live!'” (Ezekiel 16:6).

They had done nothing to deserve His favor, but were chosen to become a great nation, set apart and devoted to God. Without His grace, they would have been as lost as the newborn in the field – but God said “Live!” He picked them up, cleaned them off, loved them, and made them beautiful…but His Children forgot His love and abused His grace.

Ezekiel 16:15-16
“You trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his…such things should not happen.”

The people of Israel forgot all God had done and gave their love to other gods (spiritual prostitution). They used the grace of God for their own benefit and forgot their previous condition: “In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your blood” (Ezekiel 16:22).

God loves us so much…and it breaks His heart to see how we abuse His gifts. Without the saving grace of Jesus, each of us is as helpless as the newborn baby. Without Christ, we have no hope of survival: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We were lost in our sin until God reached down, picked us up, and said “Live!” Thank You Lord!!

Let’s remind ourselves of the miracle of Salvation! Though we have done nothing to deserve God’s grace, He reaches down and gives us eternal life – cleansing us of our sin and making us beautiful in His sight. We who believe have been born into God’s Family. Let’s not abuse His gift by forgetting when we were helpless, “naked and bare.” Let’s give Him ALL our love and always remember the days of our youth.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Aug 1 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21; Romans 15:1-22; Psalm 25:1-11; Proverbs 20:13-15
Aug 2 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13; Romans 15:23-16:7; Psalm 25:12-22; Proverbs 20:16-18
Aug 3 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33; Romans 16:8-27; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 20:19
Aug 4 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-7; Proverbs 20:20-21

773.13 Run Miles in 2013 : Goal 1509 miles
1,585.68 Bike Miles in 2013 : Goal 3000 miles

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Días de Nuestra Juventud

By Steve T. on August 1, 2013

A través de todo el Antiguo Testamento, Dios llamó a la gente de Israel a adorarle como el Único Dios Verdadero. El habló a través de Moisés, los sacerdotes, y los profetas; pero la gente continuó dando la espalda. Aún después que los Babilonios invadieran Jerusalén, Dios continuó llamando a Sus Hijos para regresar a El – ¡a regresar con TODO su corazón!

Durante el cautiverio de los Babilonios, Dios le dijo a Ezequiel que proclamara Su Palabra a toda la gente de Israel. Ezequiel le dio a la gente varias ilustraciones de lo bajo que habían caído; y la pena que su pecado le estaba causando a un Padre amoroso. Dios dijo que la gente de Israel era como un niño recién nacido lanzado a un campo abierto: “Y yo pasé junto a ti, y te vi sucia en tus sangres, y cuando estabas en tus sangres te dije: ¡Vive!” (Ezequiel 16:6).

Ellos no han hecho nada para merecer el favor de Dios, pero estaban escogidos a convertirse en una gran nación apartada y dedicada a El. Sin Su gracia, ellos hubieran estado tan perdidos como el recién nacido en el campo abierto – pero Dios dijo “¡Vive!” El los levantó, los limpió, los amó, y los hizo hermosos…pero sus Hijos olvidaron Su amor y abusaron de Su gracia.

Ezequiel 16:15-16
“Pero confiaste en tu hermosura, y te prostituiste a causa de tu renombre, y derramaste tus fornicaciones a cuantos pasaron; suya eras…cosa semejante nunca había sucedido.”

La gente de Israel olvidó todo lo que Dios había hecho y dieron su amor a otros dioses (prostitución Espiritual). Ellos usaron la gracia de Dios para su propio beneficio y olvidaron sus condiciones previas: “Con todas tus abominaciones y tus fornicaciones no te has acordado de los días de tu juventud, cuando estabas desnuda y descubierta, cuando estabas envuelta en tu sangre” (Ezequiel 16:22).

Dios nos ama mucho; y rompemos Su corazón cuando El ve la forma en que abusamos de Sus regalos. Sin la gracia salvadora de Jesús cada uno de nosotros es tan indefenso como el recién nacido; sin Cristo, no tenemos esperanza de sobrevivir: “Mas Dios muestra su amor para con nosotros, en que siendo aún pecadores, Cristo murió por nosotros” (Romanos 5:8). Estábamos perdidos en nuestros pecados hasta que Dios nos alcanzó, nos levantó y dijo “¡Vive!” ¡Gracias Señor!

¡Recordemos el milagro de la Salvación! Aún cuando no hemos hecho nada para merecer la gracia de Dios, El nos alcanza y nos da la vida eterna; limpiándonos de nuestros pecados y haciéndonos hermosos ante Sus ojos. Nosotros que creemos hemos nacido en la Familia de Dios. No abusemos de Su regalo olvidándonos de cuando estábamos indefensos – “desnudos y descubiertos.” Démosle TODO nuestro amor y siempre recordemos los días de nuestra juventud.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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Receive His Perfect Gift

By Steve T. on July 31, 2013

We are often encouraged to share the wonders of God’s love through the uncompromising truth of His Word. There are so many all around us who are in great need! We live in a lost and dying world full of people who desperately need to know God’s plan of forgiveness and restoration. But as we share the truth and minister to others, let’s also remember to make the time to personally receive ALL our Father has to offer.

When Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water, she thought the request was quite odd since Jesus was clearly a Jew, and Jews did not associate with Samaritans; “How can you ask me for a drink?” (John 4:9). Rather than explain His radical views on social interaction, Jesus took the opportunity to introduce the woman to the gift of God.

John 4:10
“Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.'”

If we only knew! I often imagine a loving Father who has given the greatest gift the world has ever known. We approach and examine the gift. We ask questions and study the gift. We even shake the gift and then proudly display it on our shelf, but we never actually open the gift and receive what’s inside. If we only knew! “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:7). His gifts are perfect; and if we only knew, we would open and receive them with abounding joy!

His gift of living water is still available today. This gift refers to our Salvation by the spiritual transformation of our heart, but it also refers to His on-going gift of a victorious life of peace and contentment; “Everyone who drinks this water [from the well] will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst” (John 4:13-14). His gift of Salvation is free through faith in Jesus Christ, and peace is assured through a humble submission to His will. But we continually rebel and pump from the wells of this world – we drink polluted lies and continually thirst for more.

Approximately 650 years earlier, God gave the same message to the people of Jerusalem: “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13). If we only knew! We sit beside a Spring overflowing with the best tasting water imaginable, but we turn away and pump sludge into our broken pots.

God has great plans for each of us – plans much bigger and brighter than anything we can accomplish through our own effort. Let’s rediscover the gift of living water and put an end to our thirst! Let’s return to the Spring and continue our journey in obedience. Let’s drink freely and daily receive His perfect gift.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 31 2 Chronicles 29:1-36; Romans 14:1-23; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 20:12

763.04 Run Miles in 2013 : Goal 1509 miles
1,585.68 Bike Miles in 2013 : Goal 3000 miles

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Recibamos Su Regalo Perfecto

By Steve T. on July 31, 2013

Con frecuencia estamos motivados a compartir las maravillas del amor de Dios a través de la verdad firme de Su Palabra aquellos a nuestro alrededor tienen gran necesidad! Vivimos en un mundo perdido y muriendo que está lleno de personas que desesperadamente necesitan saber del plan de Dios para el perdón y la restauración. Pero en la manera que compartimos la verdad y ministramos a otros, recordemos a hacer tiempo para recibir completamente todo lo que Dios tiene para ofrecer.

Cuando Jesús le pidió a la mujer Samaritana por un poco de agua, ella pensó que el pedido era un poco extraño debido a que Jesús era claramente de descendencia Judía y no se relacionaban con Samaritanos; “–¿Cómo se te ocurre pedirme agua” (Juan 4:9). En vez de explicar Su perspectiva radical acerce de la interacción social, Jesús usó la oportunidad de presentar a la mujer el regalo de Dios.

Juan 4:10
“Respondió Jesús y le dijo: Si conocieras el don de Dios, y quién es el que te dice: Dame de beber; tú le pedirías, y él te daría agua viva.”

¡Si solo supiéramos! Con frecuencia me imagino un Padre amoroso que ha dado el regalo más maravilloso que ha conocido el mundo. Nos acercamos y examinamos el regalo; hacemos preguntas y quizás agitamos el regalo y lo ponemos en la repisa, pero nunca lo abrimos para recibir lo que está adentro. ¡Si solo supiéramos! “Toda buena dádiva y todo don perfecto descienden de lo alto” (Santiago 1:17). Sus regalos son perfectos; ¡si solo supiéramos, los abriríamos y los recibiríamos con un gran gozo!

Su regalo de agua viva está todavía disponible hoy. Este regalo se refiere a nuestra Salvación en la transformación de nuestro corazón, pero también se refiere a Su regalo continuo de una vida victoriosa de paz y contentamiento; “Todo el que beba de esta agua volverá a tener sed respondió Jesús, pero el que beba del agua que yo le daré, no volverá a tener sed jamás” (Juan 4:13-14). Su regalo de Salvación es gratis a través de la fe en Jesucristo, y paz está asegurada a través de una humilde sumisión a Su voluntad, pero nosotros constantemente nos revelamos y bombeamos del pozo de este mundo – tomamos mentiras y siempre tenemos sed de más.

Aproximadamente 650 años antes, Dios dio el mismo mensaje a la gente de Jerusalén: “Dos son los pecados que ha cometido mi pueblo: Me han abandonado a mí, fuente de agua viva, y han cavado sus propias cisternas, cisternas rotas que no retienen agua” (Jeremías 2:13). ¡Si solo supiéramos! Nos sentamos al lado de un Nacimiento de agua, del mejor sabor imaginable, pero damos la vuelta para bombear lodo en nuestras cisternas rotas.

Dios tiene planes grandes para cada uno de nosotros – y Su plan es mucho más grande y más brillante que cualquier cosa que podemos lograr a través de nuestros propios esfuerzos. ¡Descubramos el regalo del agua viva y pongamos fin a nuestra sed! Volvamos al Nacimiento de agua y continuemos nuestro viaje en obediencia. Tomemos libremente y a diario recibamos Su regalo perfecto.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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Give Them Something To Eat

By Steve T. on July 30, 2013

Our world is full of people in deep spiritual need. Most have never placed their trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and are literally starving right before our eyes. But even many Brothers and Sisters who love the Lord are desperately hungry to know Him more, or they have been wounded and are in need of long term spiritual nourishment.

God’s Word tells us to have open eyes and a soft heart such that we can recognize the needs and bring them before our Father in prayer; “In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). But then we are told to carefully listen for God’s leading and fully expect to be put to work.

One afternoon, a crowd of over 5000 people had gathered to hear Jesus teach; “He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing” (Luke 9:11). The disciples saw it was getting late and would soon be time to eat. They recognized the need of the people, came before Jesus, and “presented their request.”

Luke 9:12-13
“Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to Him and said, ‘Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.’ He replied, ‘You give them something to eat.'”

When the disciples approached Jesus, they presented the need…but they also presented their solution. They knew the people were growing hungry, but their solution was to send them elsewhere for food. We often make this same mistake when we limit God by our own vision and understanding. Jesus’ solution to this need was to bless the few provisions the disciples could gather and then accomplished His work through their hands; “They all ate and were satisfied” (Luke 9:17).

God never asks us to do something without also providing the necessary tools to accomplish all He desires. We have been empowered by His Spirit and equipped through His Word. Yes, we must continue to pray; but our prayers ought to be with an understanding that God may very well direct US to carry His life-giving food and be a vessel for His healing.

There can be no greater work here on earth than to take part in restoring someone’s relationship to our Heavenly Father. Only God can truly heal, but He has invited us to join Him in this awesome work. Let’s continue to lift up the many needs to God in prayer, but then let’s prepare for His answer – His invitation – which calmly says, “You give them something to eat.”

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 30 2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27; Romans 13:1-14; Psalm 23:1-6; Proverbs 20:11

749.72 Run Miles in 2013 : Goal 1509 miles
1,585.68 Bike Miles in 2013 : Goal 3000 miles

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Dales Algo de Comer

By Steve T. on July 30, 2013

Nuestro mundo esta lleno de gente en profunda necesidad Espiritual. La mayoría nunca han puesto su confianza en Jesús para el perdón de sus pecados y están literalmente muriendo de hambre ante nuestros ojos. Pero aún muchos Hermanos y Hermanas que aman al Señor están desesperadamente muriendo por conocerle más, o han sido heridos y están en necesidad de alimento Espiritual de largo plazo.

La palabra de Dios nos dice que tengamos los ojos abiertos y un corazón blando de manera que reconozcamos las necesidades y las traigamos ante nuestro Padre en oración; “sean conocidas vuestras peticiones delante de Dios en toda oración y ruego, con acción de gracias” (Filipenses 4:6). Pero luego se nos dijo que escucháramos cuidadosamente y esperáramos ser puestos a trabajar.

Una tarde una multitud de más de 5000 personas se reunieron para escuchar a Jesús enseñar; “y él les recibió, y les hablaba del reino de Dios, y sanaba a los que necesitaban ser curados” (Lucas 9:11). Los discípulos vieron que pronto sería hora de comer. Ellos reconocieron la necesidad, vinieron ante Jesús y “presentaron su petición.”

Lucas 9:12-13
“Pero el día comenzaba a declinar; y acercándose los doce, le dijeron: Despide a la gente, para que vayan a las aldeas y campos de alrededor, y se alojen y encuentren alimentos; porque aquí estamos en lugar desierto. Él les dijo: Dadles vosotros de comer.”

Cuando los discípulos abordaron a Jesús, le presentaron la necesidad…pero también presentaron su solución. Ellos sabían que la gente estaba hambrienta, pero su solución era enviarlos a algún otro lado por comida. A menudo nosotros cometemos este mismo error cuando limitamos a Dios por nuestra propia visión y entendimiento. La solución de Jesús a esta necesidad fue bendecir las pocas provisiones que sus discípulos pudieron reunir y luego completar Su trabajo a través de sus manos; “Y comieron todos, y se saciaron” (Lucas 9:17).

Dios nunca nos pide hacer algo sin proveer las herramientas necesarias para que se cumpla todo lo que El desea. Hemos sido apoderados por Su Espíritu y equipados a través de Su Palabra. Si, debemos continuar orando; pero nuestras oraciones deben estar con la gran expectativa que Dios nos dirigirá para llevar Su vida proveedora de alimentos y ser un vaso para Su sanidad.

No puede haber un mejor trabajo en esta tierra que tomar parte en la restauración de la relación de alguien con nuestro Padre Celestial. Solo Dios puede verdaderamente sanar, pero El nos ha invitado a unirnos con El en este maravilloso trabajo. Continuemos elevando las muchas necesidades en oración a Dios, pero luego preparémonos para Su respuesta – Su invitación – que con calma dice, “Tu dales algo de comer.”

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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A Clear Conscience

By Steve T. on July 29, 2013

Several years ago I went to the store to buy four small bricks I needed to complete a project in the backyard. Nothing special, just four bricks; and after considering the selection, I decided on a charcoal black which cost a little more than the standard red brick. The store was busy with several long lines of shoppers intent on completing projects before the end of the day. I chose a line and waited my turn.

The lines moved slowly and there seemed to be an impatient tension all around. When it came my turn, the clerk quickly computed the price and took my money. As I received my change, I felt something was wrong. And as I stepped toward the door, I knew I had been charged a lower price.

My mind knew a mistake had been made, but my feet kept walking out the door and toward my car. I knew I should have revealed the mistake, but my mind raced into high gear justifying my inaction: “I don’t want to make others wait while the correction is made!” “The mistake is small – little more than the cost of a bar of candy.” “The profit from my other purchases during the year will certainly make up for this small loss.” It’s amazing how easy it was to find reasons to keep walking.

As I continued, my conscience began to counter my rationalization; and by the time I reached my car, that small inner voice was screaming at me to correct the error – and correct it NOW! I walked back into the store, waited in another long line, pointed to the error, and paid the extra money. My conscience hasn’t always been so sensitive – and I confess, it’s not always so sensitive now – but on this day it was, and I still praise God!

Acts 24:16
“I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”

God has created us all with a conscience deep within our soul. At a very young age our conscience helps us maneuver the complex path of right and wrong. And when we place our trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, we are given the Holy Spirit who ignites our conscience and guides us toward the presence of God and a life of holiness.

But when we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit, our conscience slowly becomes burned. The burning usually begins small – a little lie, a small deception – but over time, our conscience can become “seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2). Then, when needed in a time of great temptation, there is no “inner voice” to keep us from falling. Our conscience is a precious gift, and it’s hard to believe I nearly damaged such a gift in exchange for such a small amount of money.

Is your conscience sensitive to the prompting of the Spirit, or has it developed a hard crust which fails to point the way toward truth? Let’s live so that all areas of our life bring Him glory and honor. In ALL we do, let’s listen intently, obey completely, and protect God’s wonderful gift as we strive to maintain a clear conscience.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 29 2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28; Romans 12:1-21; Psalm 22:19-31; Proverbs 20:8-10

749.72 Run Miles in 2013 : Goal 1509 miles
1,585.68 Bike Miles in 2013 : Goal 3000 miles

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Una Conciencia Limpia

By Steve T. on July 29, 2013

Solamente necesitaba cuatro pequeños ladrillos para terminar el proyecto. Nada especial, solamente cuatro ladrillos. Después de considerar la selección, decidí por un ladrillo bonito, negro carbón, que costaba un poco mas del ladrillo rojo típico. La tienda estaba muy ocupado con varias largas colas de clientes determinados a cumplir sus proyectos antes del final del día. Escogí una cola y esperé my turno.

Las colas se movían lentamente y sentía que hubo una tensión impaciente alrededor de mi. Cuando tocó mi turno a pagar, el cajero rápidamente calculó el precio total y recibió mi dinero. Mientras que recibí mi cambio, sentí que algo estaba mal. Mientras caminaba hacia la puerta, sabía que me había cobrado un precio mas barato.

Mi mente sabía que un error ocurrió, pero mis pies seguían por la puerta y hacia mi carro. Yo sabía que debía haber revelado el error, pero comencé a justificar mi inacción: “No quiero hacer esperar los otros en la cola mientras que corrigen el error!” “El error es pequeño – un poco mas del valor de unos dulces.” “La ganancia de todos mis otras compras durante todo el año seguramente hacen la diferencia de esta pequeña perdida.” Es sorprendente que tan facil era encontrar razones para seguir caminando.

Afortunadamente, mi conciencia comenzó a pelear en contra de mi razonamiento; y antes de llegar a mi carro, esa pequeña voz interna estaba gritando que corrigiera el error – y AHORA! Regresé a la tienda, esperé en otra cola, les explique el error, y pague la diferencia. Mi conciencia no ha sido siempre tan sensible – y confieso, no es siempre tan sensible ahora – pero este día era sensible y doy gloria a Dios!

Hechos 24:16
“En todo esto procuro conservar siempre limpia mi conciencia delante de Dios y de los hombres.”

Dios nos ha creado todos con una conciencia muy dentro de nuestro alma. A una edad muy joven nuestra conciencia nos ayuda maniobrar el camino complejo del bien y del mal. Y cuando confiamos en Jesús por el perdón de los pecados, se nos da el Espíritu Santo quien enciende nuestra conciencia y quien nos guía hacia la presencia de Dios y una vida de santidad.

Pero cuando ignoramos la guianza del Espíritu Santo, nuestra conciencia poco a poco se quema. Las quemaduras normalmente empiecen pequeños – un mentira pequeña, una pequeña decepción – pero al pasar el tiempo, nuestra conciencia se puede llegar a ser muy “encallecida” (1 Timoteo 4:2). Y después, cuando se necesita durante un momento de tentación, no habrá esa “voz interna” que nos guarde de la caída. Nuestra conciencia es un precioso regalo, y es difícil creer que casi dañe tal regalo por el precio de algunos dulces.

¿Es nuestra conciencia sensible a la guianza del Espíritu, o ha sido encallecido? Vivamos para que cada área de nuestras vidas trae gloria y honor a Dios. En TODO lo que hacemos, escuchemos atentamente, obedezcamos completamente, y protejamos el maravilloso regalo de Dios mientras luchamos en mantener una conciencia limpia.

Tenga un Dia Centrado en Cristo!

Steve Troxel
Ministerios La Palabra Diaria de Dios

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Sarah – The Gospel, Part 4

By Steve T. on July 26, 2013

I am currently in Ohio for the 328 mile bike ride for the American Cancer Society. This ride is to raise money to help families going through the difficulties of cancer as well as to raise awareness about cancer.

I will have very limited access to email until 7-30-13. As a special treat while I am away, I would like to send out some message my sixteen year old daughter, Sarah, has recently written. Sarah is passionate about the Gospel and I believe you will enjoy her thoughts about this all-important part of the Christian faith. Please try to read all the messages in the order they are sent.

The Gospel, Part 4 – Before My Nose

I am standing on my church stage on youth Sunday, a day when the youth lead worship and share what God has been doing in their lives. I’m looking out at my covenant family, and telling them how even though I doubt God every time I ask Him for something in faith, He really does show up in my life in obvious ways.

I began the summer of 2012 very bitter because it was the one year I have been hindered from going on the youth mission trip. It was my family’s fault. We were going on a long houseboat trip on some Canadian lakes with cousins and second cousins and such. How horrible! I thought. Yes, how horrible to be surrounded by miles and miles of Canadian wilderness and wildlife on the crystal clear water with the summer-defying cool breeze on my neck and not a care in the world. And all the while with people who cared about me.

Even with my rancorous attitude, there was still a part of me that had let the Holy Spirit in. I was reading Matthew 21:21-22;

[Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”]

I knew that this passage didn’t stand if we had sinful motives and desires for personal gain in our prayers to God, but I had never actually taken the passage quite seriously. After some contemplation about my summer, I was lead to pray one of the strongest and most intense prayers I have ever prayed.

“God, this summer I have to miss the time when my body of believers makes one of their best efforts to tell others about you, but I know that the one week of the mission trip is not the only time you work. I beg of you, and I have faith without doubt that you will answer, please give me a clear and obvious opportunity this summer to share the Gospel. Please make it blatant and right before my nose, so that I don’t have to go looking for it. My motives are only to glorify you. And did I mention that you should make it clear and obvious?”

What do you think God did?

A few months later, I was sitting on the roof of a houseboat, trying so hard to simply love my 15-year-old relative (we’ll call him Jack), when he asks, “Why are you and your family so religious?”

He had not asked any questions like that for the four days we had been together.

“I actually don’t think we are very religious. We do follow Jesus Christ though and he…”

“I consider myself and atheist,” he interrupted proudly.

“Really? You believe there is definitely no God?”

“No, there might be I mean, I just don’t believe in anything, and I definitely don’t like going to church.”

“I think what you would call yourself is an agnostic then.”

“Why do you believe in God?”

Ten minutes of my own tripping and circling around and stumbling followed. Finally, when I was ready to throw in the towel, I took a deep breath and asked, “Do you want to know the biggest reason I believe in God? It’s because I have a relationship with Him, and I couldn’t have had this deep of a relationship all these years with someone who didn’t exist. It’s because I spoke with Him this morning. It’s because daily He fills me with this overwhelming love that I know is real and must come from a source higher than myself.” My voice started to crack, “All the arguments and scientific refutations in the world can’t compete with the love I receive from Him.”

I always feel like a failure when someone I’m talking to gets up and leaves without even responding to whatever I’ve said. And I hadn’t even shared the Gospel with him yet.

My younger cousin Ryan had been silently observing the whole ordeal from a distance. He reminds me of a fox. Ryan had only fully understood the Gospel and chosen to follow Christ two weeks before this, but I sat on the white roofing next to him and asked if we could each pray for Jack. The wisdom in this two-week-year-old Christian’s prayer astonished me. We were literally in mid-sentence of prayer, when I heard my name being called, and heard someone else saying “Jack’s calling you,” and saw him sitting on a huge raft-tube out in the water. The moment I pulled myself up beside him, he asked, “So say someone did believe in God, how would he actually go about starting a relationship with Him?”

I tell him why he can’t, why it’s impossible, and then I tell him who changed that and made it possible by His death. Jack isn’t sure he deserves that. He opens up and tells me a million reasons why he is not good enough for God, and how he would never be able to change those habits. He says he wouldn’t like all that “becoming religious” would entail, like going to church and using stuffy sounding words when he spoke. I ask him one question, “Ignoring all the other implications you think apply to ‘becoming a Christian’, do you plainly and simply want a relationship with God?”

“I really do.”

“Then there is someone who has made that possible for you.”

“Wait, one more question. When you have a relationship with God and, you know, follow Jesus, does it make your life… I don’t know…more…I guess, like…joyful?”

I light up, 100%, absolutely, yes! Now it won’t always be ‘happy’, like there will be difficulties. But Christ in my life has made it SO much more joyful!”

Jack’s question revealed to me something about him. No matter how much cool-dude persona he put on, no matter how much he tried to make other people think his social endeavors satisfied him, there was still a part of him that longed for more, for joy.

We then prayed.

As we lay face down with our noses touching the raft tarp, I was also having my own internal conversation with God. Why did I ever doubt you? You say you will answer and you do, and here it is. You even put it right before my nose, just like I asked.

********

God has really blessed me with some amazing kids. Several time in the last twenty years of my Christian walk, God has used one of my children to move me toward a closer relationship with Him. This is another one of those times. Dear God, allow me to be guided by Your Spirit in the same powerful way that You are clearly guiding Sarah. And, did I mention, could You please make it clear and obvious?

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 26 2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34; Romans 9:25-10:12; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 20:2-3
Jul 27 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37; Romans 10:13-11:12; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 20:4-6
Jul 28 2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21; Romans 11:13-36; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 20:7

757.98 Run Miles in 2013 : Goal 1509 miles
1244.13 Bike Miles in 2013 : Goal 3000 miles

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Sarah – The Gospel, Part 3

By Steve T. on July 25, 2013

The Gospel, Part 3 – In My Lap

God is always amazing me. If God is always amazing me, why do I get so surprised every time He does it again?

Did you know that sharing the Gospel actually takes very little effort at all on our part? Though it seems like one of the most daunting tasks, it’s actually not a task at all. It is a gift that is dropped right in our laps.

A week ago today, I was on a bumpy dirt road in the back of the van that ever increased the bumps. In my lap was a nine-year-old boy who kept shooting up and down like a pencil through my arms. I had to tighten the grip of my arms far too much before they came to a close around his waist. It was like hugging myself.

This fact alone flashed me back to two years ago when the boy was seven. Twenty kids were sitting in a circle on concrete, he sat soaking wet in my lap, and all I could think about was how much I loved him, this boy named Koletrin.

There are always sentences which we think would be incredible to hear but never expect to, such as “Son, we are getting you a pet lemur,” or “I am you fairy-godmother, and I am turning you into Rapunzel for a day.” A few more in this category would be “Who is God?”, “Can you tell me more about Jesus?”, and “I want to read more in my Bible now; can you help me?” All of these I had heard uttered from this boy’s lips over the week.

It was the first day of our mission trip VBS stations, and that morning I had read the story of Philip and the Ethiopian which had greatly changed my outlook on sharing the Gospel. After trying and failing to converse with several unresponsive faces, I was uselessly sitting with the kids during the lesson about God, when a lanky little boy asked, “Who is God?” I inwardly looked to God and chuckled. Of course You give me the opportunity in which I had no initiation. My friend Hannah and I took Koletrin outside, sat on a rock, and began to tell him some news that he clearly had little knowledge of but was authentically interested in. I was astonished when, after we had the interruption of receiving a cup of Goldfish snacks, he asked, “Can you tell me more about Jesus now?” It kept getting better.

The next day we gave Koletrin a Bible. He took it shyly and unenthusiastically at first, but then scampered over to his mom to show her, his face becoming more animated every moment, and then circled around to hold it before each of his friends. Minutes later, I find myself sitting against a wall, not reading to an empty face but one of overly-matured curiosity.

“…one and only son, that whoever believes in Him…”

“That’s me! I believe in Him!”

Seven years old. Next I am leading VBS music.

“…for the Bible tells me so…”

A thin face in the front stares at a book in his hands with a question in the lines between his eyebrows. The lines smooth out in comprehension, enthusiasm takes its place, and the hand lift the book in the air.

Later I am right in the middle of teaching a lesson when I feel a tug on my shirt from behind. Who is interrupting me?

“Hey, I want to read more in my Bible now.”

I smile and Hannah takes him outside to read, as I continue the lesson.

Another day I am preparing a craft when he comes up to me and points at the paper.

“Do those words say ‘God loves Koletrin?'”

Thursday I am trying to branch out further by sharing the Gospel with an older boy, maybe ten or so, with thick eyebrows.

“I don’t want to go to heaven,” he says.

There appears a convenient Koletrin by my side.

“Heaven?! I’m going to heaven. God is there. You should go too!”

The older boy decides to stand up and leave, yet Koletrin tells me, “Go tell him more about Jesus!”

I never thought a human coming to know Christ could look this perfect and beautiful. I always doubted the process had the potential to be so genuine and feel so fulfilling.

My entire continued relationship with Koletrin and his whole family has been one of the most satisfying things in my life, and I can’t wait to tell you more about our story together. We have written letters, connected over the phone, and I visited his home once in the blustery winter. And this summer, two years later, I got to hold him once again and praise God for this gift he had dropped right in my lap.

***********

I pray that one of the truths you receive from Sarah’s messages is that if we will open our eyes and look to see how God is working and leading, we will find Him to be actively and lovingly guiding us into a better understanding of Himself. He will use all situations to draw us closer to His side.

I don’t usually send out messages on Friday but I have scheduled a special message from Sarah that you won’t want to miss.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 25 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14; Romans 9:1-24; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 20:1
Jul 26 2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34; Romans 9:25-10:12; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 20:2-3
Jul 27 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37; Romans 10:13-11:12; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 20:4-6
Jul 28 2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21; Romans 11:13-36; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 20:7

757.98 Run Miles in 2013 : Goal 1509 miles
1244.13 Bike Miles in 2013 : Goal 3000 miles

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Sarah – The Gospel, Part 2

By Steve T. on July 24, 2013

The Gospel, Part 2 – Forcing It

The first few times I shared the Gospel, I had the mindset of a screwdriver being jabbed into a keyhole. They aren’t my most pleasant memories.

It was my very first mission trip and I was an awkward middle schooler with everything to prove. For the semester leading up to the summer, our youth group went through evangelism training, and I knew the ice-breaking questions to ask, the verses to bust out, and the key points to hit hard. Then, at the culmination of my knowledge, there sat before me a real-life chubby 5-year-old with almond-colored skin who was staring at a beetle on the wall and nodding at everything I said.

“Would you like to accept Jesus into your heart now?”

Nod.

“Okay, I’ll pray and you can repeat after me.”

First time success filled my bones and I brought the little boy to be introduced to my youth pastor. “Would you like to tell this man what you just did?”

“Uuuummmmmm”

“Did you just accept Jesus into your heart?”

Nod.

Well that was rather unfulfilling.

I repeated these steps twice more on that trip.
You might imagine that as the next year rolled around I started getting pretty nervous about my yearly shot at evangelism. I had to make sure I took the right steps to get in the right position to say the right things to be the savior of someone’s soul. Yep, that was my mindset.

All the nervousness had built up, and the night before we went out into our stations I expressed my anxiety to a peer. The response was spot-on.

“You’re worried about not finding the right opportunity for yourself to save someone? Well, first, God’s the one that does the saving, not you, duh. And then, if He’s the one that does it anyway, why would He expect you to find and force the opportunity? He’s gonna just give it to you. Haven’t you been listening in church?”

Whoa. What a huge, obvious, relieving revelation!

The next morning in my personal devotional I read the story of Philip and the Ethiopian which I had never read before. It is in Acts 8:26-40, and it is so wonderful that you should go read it right now.

Philip is just going about his business, when God’s angel suddenly decides it’s time for him to start walking on the Jerusalem-Gaza road, and Philip obeys. Then,

“The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.

‘How can I unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus” (Acts 9:29-31,35).
WOW! Why can’t real life be like that? It looks like Philip put very little effort into that situation. I must just have it much harder nowadays. If only I could just be going about life and God could pop upon me an opportunity to share the Gospel. If only He could put me in the right place at the right time, and all I would have to do is be ready.

Wait a second.

Maybe I should ask Him, and give it a shot myself. Let’s see how this works.

************

It is very encouraging for me as a father to read these messages and see how God has been working in Sarah’s life over these past few years. We need to be prepared with a correct understanding and with a boldness to share His truth, but we also need to rest in the fact that Salvation, from beginning to end, is a work of God. There are some important lessons contained in these messages; be sure to read them all.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 24 2 Chronicles 11:1-13:22; Romans 8:24-39; Psalm 18:35-50; Proverbs 19:27-29

757.98 Run Miles in 2013 : Goal 1509 miles
1244.13 Bike Miles in 2013 : Goal 3000 miles

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Sarah – The Gospel, Part 1

By Steve T. on July 23, 2013

I leave for Ohio today and will begin the 328 mile bike ride across Ohio on Thursday. This ride is to raise money to help families going through the difficulties of cancer as well as to raise awareness about cancer.

I will have very limited access to email until 7-30-13. As a special treat these next four days, I would like to send out some message my sixteen year old daughter, Sarah, has recently written. Sarah is passionate about the Gospel and I believe you will enjoy her thoughts about this all-important part of the Christian faith. Please try to read all the messages in the order they are sent.

The Gospel, Part 1 – Firsts

The first time I ever expressed the Gospel with my own voice, I was six and about to be baptized. The only thing I remember fully understanding was that my little dip in the water was a communication tool to tell the people present that I believed something. I had to read my short speech before I stepped in the pool. Of course they were not my own words, I had to ask my dad what exactly this belief was with which I was associating myself. I do remember feeling a sense of joy though.

The first time I ever understood the Gospel, I was in fifth grade and in a Kids’ EE (Evangelism Explosion) Sunday School class. I learned that the wages of sin is death, whatever wages are. I learned that Jesus was the atonement for our sins, whatever atonement is. I was very confused by all the metaphors as well (“we were the ones drowning in the ocean and Jesus was our life-raft”), but slowly all the mysteries of the Gospel began to become clear to me. How had I not understood this wonderful truth before?

The first time I ever felt any emotion about the Gospel, I was a freshman at a small school. There remains in my mind an image of myself crying my larynx and pharynx out for a situation that for the first time completely deserved my tears. I had recently finished a book that had truly given me some lasting life-change: Crazy Love by Francis Chan. God had used it to call me to place individualized Bible verses with anonymous encouragements in my classmates’ lockers. Most just laughed at the little papers, but one girl came up to me with a serious face and said “Whoever wrote this was really just wasting their ink, because I’m not a Christ-follower and don’t plan to be.” So that is why I was crying on my bed that night; not because I thought my efforts had been wasted, but because this phrase kept running through my head: “My friend might go to Hell.” My classmate, if she died in her current state, was destined for an eternity apart from the source of all good and all love.

I decided to make it my commitment to not let the school year end without having spoken to her to try to convince her of the “infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus.” I did not fulfill my commitment. But maybe it was healthful to experience having the heart-wrenching knowledge that someone has not accepted the gift Jesus offers and to personally mourn for them. I don’t know.

It is curious that these three firsts came in the order that they did: Expression, comprehension, emotion. I will not attempt to make anything of it.

************

The school event Sarah referenced occurred when she was fourteen. She had well developed passion at this young age. I pray that through these messages we will be encouraged and stirred to a greater passion for the Gospel.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Jul 23 2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19; Romans 8:9-23; Psalm 18:16-34; Proverbs 19:26

757.98 Run Miles in 2013 : Goal 1509 miles
1244.13 Bike Miles in 2013 : Goal 3000 miles

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