May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 31

Talking Smack about Jesus’ Bride 

by Sharon Jaynes 

Today’s Truth 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35 NIV). 

Friend to Friend 

I ran into Shelly at the grocery store. She had just returned from a visit with her prospective daughter-in-law. Her son was getting married in a few months, and the weekend was intended to help the two families become better acquainted. 

“I will tell you one thing,” Shelly began, “she might be a Christian, but there is one chapter in the Bible that girl has not read…Proverbs 31. She doesn’t know the first thing about how to be a wife. And I know where she got it from. Her mother. She made all the decisions. It was her show. All weekend it was evident that the women in this family were in charge.” 

Shelly continued pointing out the shortcomings of the bride as I grew more uncomfortable by the minute. My heart went out to her…not to the mother-in-law, but to the bride. The current culture calls that “talking smack.” I was so glad her son wasn’t there to hear his momma “talking smack” about his bride. This young gal had no idea she had been closely scrutinized and come up lacking. It made me a little sick to my stomach. 

Then I wondered how God’s Son, Jesus, feels when we talk badly about His bride. When we scrutinize and criticize fellow believers who are just as flawed as we are. When we evaluate and berate brothers and sisters in Christ as if we’re the ones sitting on the judgment seat. Yes, the church has received gut punches from the world around us, but most of the criticism comes from within the family itself. 

Jesus knew the propensity of His followers to criticize each other. He also knew the destructive potential of our negative words to turn those on the outside looking in away from the faith. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35), emphasis added). 

Did you catch that? “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” If we use our words against each other rather than for each other, the world will say, “Why would I want to be a part of that?” 

Others in the Bible instructed us not to speak ill of the bride. At least 55 times, the words one another appear in the Bible. Here are just a few: 

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10). 

Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16). 

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God (Romans 15:7). Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13). 

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2). Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). 

Did you notice how many of these “one anothers” involved words? God has called us to live in community and to use our words to build unity. 

So before we say something negative about Jesus’ Bride, before we “talk smack” let’s think back. Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” 

Let’s Pray 

God, help me to keep my mouth shut when I want to complain about or have disdain for your Bride. I want the world to know me because of my love for you and the Body of Christ. May my words be an encouragement to all who hear. 

In Jesus’ Name, 
Amen.

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 30

Patience Worketh Perfection 

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers. 

BIBLE MEDITATION: 

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: 

“Patience worketh perfection.” When was the last time you asked God to make you perfect? Maybe you should have asked for patience as well, because it is only through patient, abiding faith and trust in the Lord that we become “perfect.” 

A lot of people confuse this word “perfect” with “sinless.” The Greek word for perfect in James 1:4 is teleios, and it refers to a maturing growth. For example, an oak tree is the teleios of an acorn. It is the perfection of an acorn. 

So when you are discouraged and feeling a little blue, Take a look at a mighty oak and see what a nut can do. 

ACTION POINT: 

Take a walk this week enjoying the beauty of God’s creation and ask Him to give you the patience and faith that can turn a little acorn into a mighty oak.

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 29

Fight for Your Son Through Prayer 

by LISA JACOBSON 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) I heard the front door slam, and my heart dropped. 

Feeling beyond helpless, I could see our oldest son walking out into the wide acres of open land just beyond our property. 

We don’t slam doors in our home, so this action was a big deal. Clearly, he was very upset about something, and I didn’t even know about what, much less what to do about it. When he was little, I could let him cry it out or have him stay in his room until he “got happy.” Or maybe simply hold him until he felt better. 

But now? He was 17 years old, and those ideas were no longer options. I desperately wanted to rescue him — stop him somehow — but I also realized I needed to give him space. 

Helpless. 

Was there anything I could do other than run to my room, kneel down and pray? And when I say “pray,” I don’t mean a basic “bless my son” prayer, but a crying-out, “Oh, Lord, please help him” prayer. With tears in my eyes and anguish in my chest. Trusting Him to touch my son in the places I couldn’t reach if I tried. 

That kind of prayer. 

I don’t think I really understood “wrestling in prayer” until I had a son. Not that this boy gave us too much trouble, but like so many young people in our world today, he faced intense disappointments, hurts, challenges and temptations. 

It is no small thing to be a young man in this day we live in. 

Many times, his dad and I lay awake at night, calling out to God on his behalf. We prayed for protection, strength and courage for him. And we still do, as Philippians 4:6 urges us: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” 

Maybe the boy in your life is only a little guy. Even so, I hope you’ll start praying for him today. 

Then as he grows older, don’t be surprised that he will need your prayers more than ever. 

But I also hope you won’t consider prayer as a last-ditch effort in your parenting. You won’t want to wait until a child slams the front door to begin praying for them. 

Yes, make prayer your first impulse, not your last, when it comes to loving your son. And remind yourself that, thankfully, it’s not all up to you to keep his heart safe and his body sound. He has a heavenly Father who knows and loves him more than you ever could. You don’t need to be anxious — just prayerful. 

So why not go to God and talk to Him about that boy you love? Pour out your concerns, your hopes and your desires for him. 

Our oldest son is now in his mid-20s. He is walking tall and waiting for his wife. And he would tell you quite openly how thankful he is to have had a praying mother. He’d say that it’s made a definite difference in his life. I am grateful. 

My friend, you can trust God with your son. Lovingly lift him up in prayer, starting today. 

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to lift my son up to You. I pray You will protect him and strengthen him. Please give me wisdom, guidance and grace as I raise my child to know and love You. Help me to trust You with his heart and life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 28

Walk in the Daylight 

by Pastor Greg Laurie

“Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy” (Romans 13:13 nkjv). 

Much of the entertainment industry wants to make bad things look good and good things look bad. They’ll take something that’s forbidden, something we know is sinful, and make it look very appealing by the way they present it. 

Then they’ll take something that’s good, virtuous, and wholesome, and make fun of it or even outright attack it. 

Yet the Bible tells us, “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy” (Romans 13:13 nkjv). 

Let me put that into the modern vernacular: Don’t party and drink. Have you ever been in a place where a group of people are drinking, and they get louder and louder? Pretty soon no one even knows what they’re laughing at. 

The Christian should be under the control of the Holy Spirit not alcohol or drugs. Ephesians 5:18 tells us, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (nlt). 

Then there is the word: lewdness, which comes from a Greek term that simply means “bed.” It holds the same connotation as two people going to bed together. We understand that doesn’t mean taking a nap. 

The word lust in this verse doesn’t merely describe a person given over to immorality. It describes someone who is living immorally but is incapable of feeling shame. It’s shameless excess and the complete absence of restraint. 

In other words, this is a person who not only lives immorally, but they proclaim it. They flaunt it. They’re proud of it. 

It frightens me when I hear of Christians engaging in sexual activity outside of God’s constraints, having affairs, extramarital sex, and premarital sex. 

The Bible is saying that should not be true of us. So, don’t live that way. 

Copyright © 2020 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. 

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 27

Taming the Tongue 

BIBLE MEDITATION: 

“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: 

Your tongue can get you into a lot of trouble. There is nothing that can do more damage to your relationships than your words. 

Proverbs 17:27 says, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words.” That is, if you’re smart, you won’t talk so much. When you do talk, keep your words warm and sweet because you may have to eat them later. 

There’s an old saying I heard a Rabbi use once that reminds us: “The ears are open and out. They’re unguarded, but the tongue is behind ivory bars.” 

When you’re talking, you’re not learning. When you’re not learning, you’re not communicating. When you’re not communicating, there will be no intimacy in your relationships. 

ACTION POINT: 

In what ways has your mouth gotten you into trouble this week? Confess those times before the Lord and ask for strength and wisdom to be a better communicator. 

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 26

Recognize Your Vulnerability 

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 

Some Christians see a fellow believer fall into sin but fail to acknowledge that they, too, could stumble. That's dangerous. Satan has them right where he wants them: deceived by a false sense of confidence. Three enemies are constantly at work trying to bring us down: the Devil, his world system, and our own treacherous flesh. 

Even though believers have a righteous standing before God, we must each, like Paul, acknowledge an internal problem: "sin which dwells in me" (Rom. 7:20). Satan takes full advantage of this weakness, luring us with fleshly and worldly temptations. He stokes our pride so we'll be blinded to our own vulnerability to stumbling. 

Christians need to be continually on guard. Since ignorance--of the nature of sin, the strategies of the Enemy, and our own areas of weakness--sets us up for failure, we cannot afford to be careless in our thinking. Anytime you find yourself excusing, redefining, or rationalizing sin, you've lost your sensitivity to the Lord. God's Word must always fill our minds and direct our steps. 

If you've drifted from the Lord, turn back to Him by acknowledging your sin and accepting full responsibility for it. Repentance simply means changing your mind and going in a different direction--toward God instead of away from Him. 

The next step is harder. Respond with gratitude for the Lord's chastisement. Every time believers fall into sin, God lovingly works to bring them back into a fellowship with Him. His discipline may be painful, but it's always good because it brings us to our senses and reconnects us with our Father. 

From Dr. Charles Stanley

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 25

THE PROBLEM OF WORRY 

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life... Matthew 6:25 

A few years ago, I noticed a lump on my forearm.  It was small and not very noticeable.  I did not give it much thought… but then it began to grow.  My wife, Debbie, told me I needed to get it checked out. As I was making the doctor’s appointment, my mind began to race with worry, “What if this is serious?  What if this is cancer?  O God, I don’t want to die and leave behind my wife and three little girls!” As it turned out, the lump was just fatty tissue. I was already planning my funeral over something that was really nothing! 

Let’s face it; many of us have a problem with worry.  We so often see the circumstances of life through a lens of worry and fear.  Anxious, fearful thoughts fill our minds: “I am going to lose my job… my children are going to get hurt… my marriage is going to crater…  I will not be able to make it financially… my goose is cooked!!!”  Have you ever had those kinds of worried thoughts? Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life.” 

WHY IS WORRY SO BAD 

Worry is so bad because it is wasteful. Worry does not solve problems… it does not dry tears… it does not draw us closer to God. It is a total waste of time and energy. 

Worry is so bad because it is harmful. Worry will sap your strength and debilitate your body. It can easily produce ulcers, insomnia, colitis and a host of other problems.  It is the equivalent of putting sand in your car’s gas tank. It gums up the works. 

Worry is bad because it is sinful. Worry is the opposite of faith – “Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23). Worry tells God you do not trust Him, and you do not think He is not able to take care of you and meet your needs. 

WHAT CAN BE DONE? 

Did you know there is a simple answer to worry? You can start today living a life free of debilitating worry IF you will transfer ownership of your possessions over to God. 

You see, we worry about things we possess: our kids, our spouse, our job, our marriage, our finances, our health, our whatever. We NEVER worry about other people’s things. Who is worried over Anna Nicole Smith’s fortune? Not me… and not you, because it is not ours. 

THE COMPANY CAR 

When I was a salesman for Nalco Chemical Company, I was given a company car. Nalco owned it, and they let me use it. Whenever I took the car in for routine maintenance, if there was a problem found that would cost a few hundred dollars to fix, I didn’t care. It wasn’t my car. It wasn’t my money that had to pay for it. My attitude was whatever the cost, just fix it. I had no worries with that car because it did not belong to me. I just took care of it with the company’s money. 

My friend, God is the Company. Everything in your life is nothing more than a company car. You do not own it… He does. Your children, your job, your finances, your spouse, your home, your health, your future… it all belongs to Him. He gives it to us to use and enjoy, but never to own. That is why when you die, you leave it all behind because it does not really belong to you anyway. 

START TODAY 

Are you worried today?  Are you anxious and bothered about a situation? Are you afraid the worst will happen? Transfer ownership of all you have to God. Treat it all as a company car. Thank God for it, enjoy it, use it wisely and carefully, but never assume ownership of it. Remind yourself daily that it all belongs to Him – "The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains" (Psalm 24:1) – so trust Him with it. You will be amazed at the joy and peace that will come to your heart as a result! No Worries! 

Love, 

Pastor Jeff Schreve, 
From His Heart Ministries

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 24

Crunching the Numbers 

by Melissa Spoelstra 

Today’s Truth 

A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses in the Tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai. On the first day of the second month of that year he said, “From the whole community of Israel, record the names of all the warriors by their clans and families. List all the men twenty years old or older who are able to go to war. You and Aaron must register the troops, and you will be assisted by one family leader from each tribe. (Numbers 1:1-4, NLT) 

Friend to Friend 

One of my college summer jobs was at a retail clothing store. When the manager told the employees that it was time to do inventory, my internal groan was loud. This is when we had to count everything in the store and record it. (The store sold baby clothes, so counting socks, onesies, and tiny clothes was tedious.) Taking stock of inventory was necessary in order to assess losses from theft and prepare for a new line of clothing to come in. It was menial and boring, yet it was a necessary preparation. 

In the first chapter of the Book of Numbers, we find the Lord asking His people to take stock of their resources. This meant counting the people. I’ve always thought God doesn’t care as much about numbers as other things so it’s surprising to me to find an entire book with this title. We aren’t supposed to measure our Christian lives by numbers, right? The Pharisees (big rule followers) in the New Testament did that. They counted how many times they prayed and fasted, and they were really big on pointing out the number of other people’s faults. God wants us to live by His Spirit, which can’t be measured or tacked down. 

Take a moment to think about all the numbers in your life: cell phone numbers, credit card or ID numbers, the time you have to be somewhere, the number of likes on the picture you posted, your bank account balance—and let’s not even talk about that number on the scale. Numbers make up a part of our identity, but they also can be sources of our discontent, especially when they don’t add up the way we want them to. 

While I still believe God cares about relationship more than anything else, I am learning that He uses numbers for His purposes. After all, He counted His people (Numbers 1:46), knows the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30), records the number of your tears (Psalm 56:8), and asks us to forgive seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). Numbers reveal things about our lives. 

God didn’t ask His people to crunch the numbers regarding how much clothing, gold, shoes, or food they possessed. He was supplying manna for them daily and promised that through the wilderness journey their shoes would not wear out. Instead, He told them to count the people. The Lord was preparing Israel to go and take the land He had promised them. He wanted them to know their military strength and have everyone organized. 

They did it in the record speed of only twenty days because they counted in their own families and clans with well-organized leadership. Their efficient census methods and sheer numbers would bolster morale to realize they were no longer slaves but a mighty army. The census provided order, leadership, assessment of resources, and future planning. These numbers would be important to them as they prepared for the battles ahead. 

Are there any challenges looming ahead in your life? Reflect for a moment to take a personal census. What resources has God made available to you to prepare for current and future battles? Consider the following: 

• Counsel from others you need to seek 

• Prayer warriors who will pray for you 

• Money that will be needed 

• Time that will be required 

• Physical or spiritual disciplines you might need to incorporate 

God had already prepared the people by teaching them His laws and regulations for worship, food, and community life. Now He wanted them to see that a huge part of the preparation process involved realizing the value of people. In the past, the Israelites had focused on their lack— they complained about their leaders, their thirst, and the strength of their enemies. God wanted them to see that they had one another. God would be their strength, but He had multiplied them into a mighty army. 

Having the people of Israel take stock of their resources was one-way God prepared them to appreciate what they had rather than what they didn’t. We too can crunch the numbers and realize that God has placed people in our lives to help us fight our battles. Let’s take stock today and praise Him for the gift of people. 

Prayer 

Lord, help me to count what You have provided in my life. Help me to see the people You have placed in my life. Thank you for allowing me to support and serve others around me as well. I want to take stock of what You have given me rather than always focusing on what seems lacking. 

In Jesus’ Name, 

Amen. 

Now It’s Your Turn 

Who is someone God has given you as a resource in fighting your battles? Think of a person who encourages, helps, or sharpens you. Take a moment to thank God for that individual and perhaps send them a note telling them how much you appreciate them.

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 23

The Pause We All Need 

by CORRIE GERBATZ 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV) 

It was another morning run on a familiar neighborhood loop. My plodding steps chipped away at the miles ahead as my jumbled mind attempted to sort and re-sort my growing list of to-do’s. It was going to be a busy day. 

If I don’t go to the grocery store today, then I probably can’t make it again until the weekend. Speaking of groceries, what am I going to make for dinner, and are we going to shovel it in our faces before or after baseball practice? I have Bible study homework to finish. The kids have schoolwork still waiting, and forget about the chores at home. I need to check in with my parents, and I need to schedule a sitter ASAP for later in the week. 

I was already feeling behind in my day when I noticed my untied shoelaces. I needed to stop. Ugh! Breathlessly annoyed and sweaty, I dropped to my knees to tend to my laces. I double knotted those suckers for good measure and was about to take one last resting gulp of air when my eyes finally took notice of the landscape before me. 

The sun’s first rays illuminated the mountain peaks and set the slopes afire with colors beyond the expertise of any painter’s palette. Hills below boasted of summer’s first greens, and on the air was the aroma of promised blooms to come. I was completely mesmerized and marveled in the moment for one breath more as the praises in Psalm 19 leapt to the forefront of my mind: 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2). 

Not only was creation ever praising the glory of God, but day and night, creation was on display reminding me to look up and do the same. But was I doing the same? The honest answer was I didn’t know, and the truth of the words struck my heart with conviction. 

When was the last time I paused to notice creation, let alone praise the One who created it all? For weeks, my efforts had been consumed by activities and schedules within my calendar. There was no looking up. There was no pausing or praising. And my perspective over it all had become a bit nearsighted. 

On my way back home, I continued to ponder my perspective, the act of praise and the importance of pausing. I went back to the Psalms to dig deeper, and there in the chapters I found David, the shepherd boy chosen to become king. Now David was a man who truly experienced the highs and lows of life. He knew seasons of great busyness, blessing and victory, and he also knew seasons of despair, grief and guilt. Yet through it all, David’s heart was sustained by a right perspective in the Lord. 

How did he do it? Well, I believe it’s because David knew how to pause and praise well. Time and time again, David paused to take notice of the Lord’s creation, and he praised the mighty work of the Lord’s hands. This practice not only reminded David of his humble place within creation, but also God’s authorship and authority over creation, his life and his circumstances. 

Perspective matters. 

The same Lord is over our lives and our circumstances. He’s over my season of busyness. He’s over your seasons of blessing, ongoing struggle, heartbreaking sorrow, financial strain, exciting unknowns or even the monotony of the mundane. He’s over it all, and it is He, the Creator of heaven and earth, who holds us today. This, my friends, is a truth worth pausing to remember. This is a truth worthy of our praise. And this is a truth worth looking up for. 

Dear Lord, You are our Lord, sovereign over all. I desire to praise You as creation does. Forgive me for the times I have become nearsighted in my own endeavors, and remind my heart to look upon You first today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

TRUTH FOR TODAY: 
Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (NIV) 

Psalm 145:5-6, “They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty — and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works — and I will proclaim your great deeds.” (NIV)

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 22

A Prayer for True Love 

By Marjorie Jackson 

“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” - 1 John 4:8 (NASB) 

God’s love for you and me is passionate, pure and beyond anything we’ve ever experienced, accepting us as we are. Our good, our sins, our past and our flaws are all bare before His eyes, yet being the perfect Gentleman and Father He is, He washes, changes, teaches and grows us tenderly. He reminds us of our worth and beauty as His daughters. He wants to forgive, bless and take care of us. He loves us with unconditional agape love. 

Good news: His love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8) We can love like that, too — not in our own strength or willpower, but by the Holy Spirit perfecting God’s love in our hearts. (1 John 4:12) The deeper we know God and His arduous, purposeful love for us and for others, the easier we can love others as an act of loving obedience to God. 

1 John 4:20 tells it like it is: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (NASB) 

Of course. How can we defy God’s command to love the people He has placed in our lives and still claim to love Him? Our obedience to God’s Word comes from our love and reverence for Him who gave His all so we could keep on giving and loving like He has done for us. 

It is only when we love God first and foremost that we can reach our full potential in loving others as friends, sisters, daughters, wives and mothers. As we grow in our love for God and in our knowledge of His love, we begin to change. We begin to see and love others differently. 

In reality, true love happens when the stars don’t align, sparks dim and butterflies fly away. Love happens when we sacrifice, knowing we’ll get nothing in return. We are patient, kind, never envious or boastful, modeling 1 Corinthians 13 in our hearts and with our behavior without expecting payback or accolade. We lay down our lives in love. 

Today’s key verse, 1 John 4:8 says, “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” I hope you find true love. I hope you and I grow so close to God that we naturally begin to “love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5b, NASB). May you and I so overflow with God’s love that it runs up and over onto everyone we meet. His love will never fail, because God Himself is true love, and God never fails. 

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me long before I ever loved You. Affirm Your love to me so I may know it well and pour it out on those around me. You are good, and Your love is perfect. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Editor’s Note: Content taken from the Encouragement for Today devotional, “True Love Does Exist,” written by Marjorie Jackson.

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 21

4 Keys to Longsuffering as a Couple 

By Lynette Kittle 

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”  - 2 Corinthians 4:17 

There are couples in difficult marriages, individuals who are enduring hardships and suffering in their relationships. Maybe you are one who is suffering in your marriage. 

Serving as a pastor, counselor, and chaplain, my husband has ministered to many who find themselves in very difficult marital relationship. From unfaithful spouses to dying husbands and wives, many couples find themselves in situations they didn’t ever anticipate facing in marriage, situations they don’t want to be in but must now address. 

They are suffering through challenges and heartbreaking circumstances, often not knowing how they are going to make it through another day. 

Present-day culture says if a marriage isn’t working, or is inconvenient, or hard, you should leave because you deserve to be happy. Sadly, walking away is often encouraged. Modern day society doesn’t allow much room for longsuffering in relationships. 

Sticking with each other through tough times is at a new low. So how does a couple hold up and hold on amidst difficult circumstances? What are the keys to staying married through thick and thin? 

1. Cultivate a resistance to divorce. Don’t consider divorce as the answer to your problems or situation, but rather see it as an enemy of your marriage, not a solution to your issues. Don’t see it as a viable option in your marital relationship. 

Hold on to what Mark 10:9 explains, “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Remember how God sees you and your spouse as one flesh. “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). 

Regardless of divorce statistics, choose to believe, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). 

2. Keep your heart soft toward God, which will in turn, keep your heart softened toward your spouse. “Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning’” (Matthew 19:8). 

So, what is the answer for those whose hearts are already hardened toward their spouse? Ask God to soften your heart. Turn toward Him and surrender your marriage to Him. Ask Him to have His way in your relationship. 

3. View your suffering as temporary, rather than never-ending. Compared to eternity, Scripture says a lifetime is like a blade of grass (1 Peter 1:24). 

Yet when experiencing suffering, months, day, and even minutes, can feel like they drag on and are never-ending. At times, the thought of continuing on can seem overwhelming. 

The Apostle Paul, who experienced much suffering, explains in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present suffering are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” 

4. Ask God to give you His joy, strength, and comfort in your situation. Suffering is hard. It’s easy to feel worn down, weary, and hopeless at times. 

Even so 1 Peter 4:13 urges, “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” 

As well, Isaiah 40:29, reassures us that, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” 

If anyone understands your suffering, it’s God, and He knows how to comfort you in the midst of it. 2 Corinthians 1:5, explains “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 20

Thankful in Trials 

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers. 

BIBLE MEDITATION: 
“Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.” 1 Chronicles 16:8 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: 
If you are a child of God, you ought to be able to thank God every moment of every day no matter what happens to you. 

Have you ever stopped to thank God for the water that you drink? Did you know that in some countries in the world, the majority of the population doesn’t have reasonably pure drinking water? Millions of people die annually just from water-related diseases. 

If you wear a hearing aid, do you ever thank God for that? Some people wish they had a hearing aid. 

If you are a student in the midst of final exams, do you thank God that you have an exam to take? There are many who wish they could afford college. 

Do you thank God for your next breath? 

ACTION POINT: 
Take whatever it is that looks like a trial in your life today and thank God for it! Thank Him every time the thought enters your mind to grumble or complain.

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 19

Trusting God’s Timing 

By Lynette Kittle 

“But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison” - Genesis 40:14 

Have you ever experienced feeling forgotten by someone who promised to keep in contact with you, or said they would recommend you for an opportunity, but then seemed to have disappeared and forgotten all about you? 

Scripture tells us about the extraordinary life of Joseph, a man who understood what it meant to be forgotten by others. Sold into slavery by jealous brothers who truly did want to forget all about him, their actions led to Joseph’s imprisonment. 

While serving time with fellow inmates, Joseph interpreted a dream for the chief cupbearer who was also imprisoned at the time. Joseph asked to be remembered by him when he was released. But, following a quick release, this inmate forgot all about Joseph’s assistance. Genesis 40:23 explains, “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” 

So, was the cupbearer just a terrible person who purposely forgot Joseph? Was he a self-absorbed individual totally ungrateful for his help? Or, was his delay in remembering Joseph all in God’s timing? It’s a question we too may want to consider when it seems like we’ve been forgotten by someone we thought for sure would remember us. 

Genesis 41:1-13, describes what followed. After two full years had passed, the chief cupbearer’s boss, the Pharaoh, had a dream that he didn’t understand. When all his advisors and consultants couldn’t interpret the troubling dream for him, the chief cupbearer had an “aha” moment where he remembered Joseph. 

This “aha” moment led to Joseph being called before Pharaoh to interpret his dream, an act that led to his release from prison and being placed into a high position within the kingdom (Genesis 41:41). Although forgotten throughout his life by others, God didn’t ever forget Joseph, working through his life in remarkable ways (Acts 7:9-10). 

Like Joseph, when we have felt forgotten by others, we can take comfort in knowing God remembers us. We can also trust God is at work in our lives, whether by way of those we are hoping will think of us, or through those who may surprise us. 

I have a family member who was praying and asking God for a job, when friends who were thousands of miles away, ones he hadn’t been in contact with for years, “just happened” to be looking through a box that brought him to mind. 

In thinking of him, they had an “aha” moment, where they felt prompted to contact him in consideration for an upcoming opening at their organization. In calling to reconnect with him, they discovered he was looking for a job, which led to his being hired for the position. So, whenever we’re feeling forgotten by others, we can choose to trust God hasn’t forgotten us. We can believe He has a plan for our lives and will bring us to the minds of those who know us, in His perfect timing and according to His will. 

Who has God brought to your mind recently? Anyone you haven’t thought about in years? Take time to consider why you’re thinking of them, and ask God if He is prompting you to reach out to them.

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May, 2020 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 18

My Conversation with a Hedge 

by Shawn McEvoy 

He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility. - Proverbs 15:32 

Some years during summer, my wife and kids leave me for two-to-three weeks to visit all of her relatives in Texas while I stay home and work. For the first day or two that they're gone, I enjoy my freedom from some of my responsibilities. After that, though, I tend to go a little crazy. I find myself wandering around the house, or doing "improvement" projects I have no business tackling. Making up song lyrics. Or having conversations with inanimate objects. 

A couple years ago, in the middle of their trip, I was trimming the bushes beneath our front windows. The three on the right side of the stoop grow more uniformly than the three on the left. On the left, the one closest to the stairs is healthiest, while the other two, thanks to heavier afternoon shade, don't do as well. Oh, it's hard to tell, because I keep them pruned so that they "grow together" in the middle and stay squared off on the tops and corners. But obviously, the two weaker bushes suffer the pruning less frequently, because I let them grow out to fill in the gaps. 

As I was working, their healthier sibling, I imagined, began to speak to me. Or to whine is more like it... 

Hey! What gives? 

Nothing, my good man. Just time for your monthly trimming. 

But why? I'm not doing anything wrong. Just sitting here minding my own business. Doing good, doing what I'm supposed to do. And here you come... 

Well, just sit still, please. Trust me, I have a purpose here. 

Really? Well forgive me for asking, but why doesn't that purpose seem to apply to my lazy, stunted brethren here? All this time and barely a scratch. Maybe a nip, a cut. Nothing lost, no pain. 

You're not happy with how you look? Where you're situated? 

I'm fine. But that's just it. I don't deserve this cutting and trimming. 

You think you planted yourself in this primo spot? 

Never really thought about it. I just want to know why you're taking so much away from me and nothing from them. 

I told you I have a purpose. You can't see what I can see. In fact, you can't see much at all. You're completely rooted in place. But I've seen all around you and through you, and have since you were planted. 

But it hurts. I don't like losing things. 

Never having them in the first place, and never really growing, that's not much good either. I have to give extra care and attention to those others. I can only hope it brings them up to the same level of maturity as you... 

Hmmph. 

I finished trimming up the hedges, and went my way, unsure I had gotten through. But when I stood back, I beheld something beautiful. I could only hope those under my care understood, had not despised their discipline, and opted to forsake impractical, joyless comparison. 

Intersecting Faith & Life: 
The next time you feel like others aren't being as challenged as you are, or like the Lord is picking on you unfairly, consider that you can't see all the perspectives or purposes of the Lord, not in your life and especially not in the lives of others. The Lord loves you enough to discipline you, and he knows you're healthy and with enough green growth to handle His pruning.

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