kick in the pants

this morning's devotion courtesy of Billy Graham:

The Divine Flame:

"You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses." - Acts 1:8


Simon Peter was so spiritually weak before Pentecost that, in spite of his bragging to the contrary, he swore and denied Christ.  He was cowed by the crowd, shamed by a little maid, and took his place with the enemies of Christ.
But see him after he has been baptized with fire - the fire of the Holy Spirit!  He stands boldly before the same rabble that had crucified Jesus, looks into their faces, and fearlessly proclaims the good news of salvation (see Acts 2:36).  Peter, the weak, was transformed into Peter, the rock.
So it was with the early disciples.  The Holy Spirit changed them from ordinary individuals into firebrands for God.  Their faith and zeal started a conflagration that spread throughout the Roman Empire.
Their secret?  Total submission to Jesus Christ and His will.  What keeps you from being used of God to touch your world for Christ?

Longing for God

My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God- PSALM 84:2

Have you ever been underwater for a period of time that is longer than you expected? You know, as the time ticks away, how desperate you become to reach the surface and breathe the air.  The greater the time you are under water, the more you long for a breath of air until that desire overwhelms you, and you rush to get to the surface as rapidly as possible.  You have no other thoughts but quenching your need for air.

                That is what it means to “long for God,” to feel unfulfilled without Him.  It means we know we desperately need Him, even more than we need air, and we yearn to be filled with His presence.  “My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

                God wants us to be satisfied with nothing less than Himself.  And we are never more fulfilled than when we know Him.  Ask God to give you a new hunger for Him, so you may become filled with “the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:13)

Billy Graham Hope for Each Day,  February 5th

SMILE

it will increase your face value :)