Guidelines For Living Devotional

How To Work Through Sexual Temptation

All he wanted to do was to burglarize the apartment he had broken into, so he told the court, but when he saw the sleeping victim who had shed most of her clothing on that warm summer evening, he said that he was unable to control himself.  When he was arrested and brought to court, he explained that he was suffering from a thyroid illness which made him lose control of his passions; therefore, he argued, he was not responsible.  The court, however, didn't buy that line of reasoning and found him guilty of both rape and burglary.

This Is Why We Should Love One Another

A Cambodian man was so infuriated when he came home and found his wife gone and no lunch on the table that he set fire to the family house and burned it to the ground. The 37-year-old husband told police that he wanted to teach his wife a lesson.  The police, however, felt that he had some lessons to learn himself and detained him in the local jail where he was assured of regular meals.

How To Live A Faithful Life

Why God chooses to use some and not others who seemingly have far greater talents and abilities has never been completely clear to me.  The fact is that God often uses individuals who have little in the natural to recommend them.  I think of Gideon, who demanded a sign from God, and Barak the military leader who wouldn't face the enemy unless a woman went with him; Rahab, the prostitute, who was of the lineage of Jesus Christ.  Include the twelve who were common fishermen, farmers, tax collectors and laborers, who walked with Jesus... along with St. Augustine, Mary Slessor, the Scottish lass who left such a mark on Africa in the nineteenth century, and on and on.  But two common threads seem to be evident:  Men and women who are used by God in some measure or capacity are people of simple faith, and have lives characterized by complete obedience.

How Does Our Culture View Success?

Success, says the dictionary, is "the degree or measure of succeeding," or "the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence."  It's the latter definition which is the one our kids embrace.  Success is the shiny new car, the most sophisticated computer, the Rolex watch--or at least something stylish and better than the Timex variety.  It often includes a beautiful girl on your arm, or a handsome guy who has the looks and the car to match.

What To Do When You’re In A Catch-22 Situation

It's a catch-22 situation, one where you can't win.  That expression "catch-22" was made famous by a book by the same title, one that came out of the war experiences of Joseph Heller.  Heller was flying over France in World War 2 when shrapnel hit his plane, a B-25 bomber.  Up to that time, he had been pretty well fearless, but no longer.  He wanted out. 

Learn How To Make The Most Out Of Today

Your doctor tells you, "Put your house in order; you're going to die."  Then someone says, "Hold it!  You've got fifteen years to go!"  How would you feel?  Elated!  Joyful!  Thrilled beyond words!  Suddenly your life would take on new meaning.  What you thought was important pales in comparison because you were alerted for the knock of the grim reaper, and suddenly the darkness gives way to the dawn of hope.  Fifteen years is a long time.

Here’s How To Resist Temptation

How often have you heard the line, "He just couldn't say no!" or the feminine version of that, which is, "She knew better than that.  That's not how she was raised!"  What's the problem?  Was it what the individual did, or the lack of discipline that brought confrontation with a situation which the person knew to be wrong?

Develop A Culture Of Honesty

When you don't in a world that generally does, you stand out like a sore thumb!  In other words, when almost everybody cheats, and you don't, you are penalized.  When almost everybody lies to get ahead, and you feel compelled to tell the truth, you are at a distinct disadvantage.  When almost everybody uses company time for their own personal business or pleasure and you don't, you are thought strange or even stupid.

Discover How To Bring Back The Spark In Your Marriage

When Larry Krusinski left the hospital after a stay of almost one year, he went home to a woman he couldn't remember marrying but a woman who cared so deeply for him that he literally fell in love with her twice.

What To Do When Love Grows Cold

Can you relate to the following?  A husband and a wife come together in marriage and celebrate their love.  Nine months later a son is born. They name him Jezreel but call him Jesse for short.  Don't think that children always bring you closer together.  In many cases children put stress on a marriage, and that's what happened with this couple. The husband was preoccupied with his work and he and his wife began to drift.