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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Coping with Grief (1)
‘Jesus wept.’

John 11:35
The UCB Word for Today - 3 Apr 2016


Dr Colin M. Parkes said, ‘Grief is the price we pay for love’. The more you love someone, the more you grieve their death. Shock, disbelief, confusion, depression, emptiness, and anger are all part of the process.

When Jesus arrived at the home of Lazarus, His friend had been dead for four days and his sister Martha was upset.

She wanted to know why Jesus hadn’t come sooner, or prevented it altogether. ‘Why, Lord?’ It’s a question we ask when we’re overwhelmed with grief. And what was Jesus’ response?


The Bible says that seeing Mary and the other mourners, ‘Jesus wept’. And when He did, He made it okay for you to grieve too! Tears don’t represent a lack of faith; they just mean you’re human.


The One who gave you the ability to love understands sorrow and loss - that’s why He gave you tears. How do we mourn? One counsellor says: ‘Awkwardly. Imperfectly. Usually with a great deal of resistance.


Often with anger and attempts to negotiate … We flounder through kicking and screaming, until we reach that peaceful state called acceptance.’ But acceptance doesn’t mean giving in to despair, because ‘the parting is for a moment and the reunion is for eternity’. Paul says: ‘We will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.


For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality … then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory”’ (1 Corinthians 15:51-54 NIV 2011 Edition).


Luke 6:27-49, Ps 35-36

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Coping with Grief (2)
‘The LORD is close to the broken-hearted.’

Psalm 34:18
The UCB Word for Today - 4 Apr 2016


One woman said, ‘I’d no idea grieving involved so many “firsts”. My first night alone, the first time I attended church alone, my first anniversary alone.

And when I didn’t think things could get worse, I find myself bracing for the holidays alone - I’d give anything to boycott them.’ In such moments we can stand on the promise, ‘The LORD is close to the broken-hearted’. He offers us the comfort of His presence and His Word, the support of loving friends and family, plus the passage of time to help heal us.

In the meantime there are some things you can do for yourself: 1) Draw on God’s strength. Grief is physically and emotionally draining.

So ask God to protect you from being consumed by it, and to strengthen you when you’re feeling down. ‘He gives strength to the weary … those who hope in the LORD … renew their strength’ (Isaiah 40:29, 31 NIV 1984 Edition). 2) Have reasonable expectations about what you can handle.

Don’t expect too much too soon. Treat yourself like you’d treat your best friend; be kind, considerate, and nurturing. 3) Try to plan ahead.

When you’re grieving there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to handle special events like birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.

Some people decide to do something totally different instead of trying to maintain old traditions that reinforce their sense of loss.


Do what feels best to you. 4) Allow others to help you. Going it alone usually means going nowhere; reach out to friends and loved ones.

Ask them to pray with you and for you. Remember, others don’t necessarily know what you need unless you tell them.

Josh 4-6, John 1:1-28

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Doorways
‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.’

Proverbs 14:12
The UCB Word for Today - 5 Apr 2016


Imagine a long, dark hallway with a series of doors on either side.
Written on each one is the name of an addiction such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, pornography, gambling, etc.

Your teenager must walk down that hallway on their journey to adulthood, and their temptation to open those doors will be great.

They can hear the beat of the music and the raucous laughter of their friends echoing from inside. The pressure to join them can be enormous.

And it’s very difficult to convince a fun-loving adolescent that they should stay in the dark hallway, which seems so boring and embarrassing.

Unfortunately for a certain percentage of individuals who open one or more of these doors, a tragedy begins to unfold.


If a person is susceptible - and there’s no way to know in advance - he or she only has to crack the door an inch or two and a monster will run out and grab them. And some will be held in its grip for life.


If you talk to an addict about his or her addiction you’ll learn that it probably began casually - with no hint that life was about to take a tragic turn. It all started with opening a door. Solomon bottom-lines it in two Scriptures: 1) ‘My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us” … do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path’ (Proverbs 1:10-11, 15 NKJV). 2) ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.’


Josh 7-9, John 1:29-51

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Express Your Love
‘The Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all.’

1 Thessalonians 3:12
The UCB Word for Today - 6 Apr 2016


As C.W. Vanderbergh wrote, ‘To love the whole world for me is no chore. My only real problem is my neighbor next door’. Most businesses would benefit greatly if bosses truly loved their employees, and the workers knew it.

Most marriages would be happier, if spouses heard and saw constant reminders that they were loved by their mates. Most families would be happier, if parents consistently and lovingly affirmed their children.

Tim Sanders, who wrote Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends, tells us love is the crucial element in the search for personal and professional success. He goes on to say that if life was an iPhone, love would be the first app you should add.

Sanders is on to something! The greatest leaders are loving leaders - their followers, friends, and employees know they have their best interests at heart.

Stop and think about this: Would you say the people who made the greatest and most lasting impact on you were the ones you felt genuinely loved and cared about you? Of course you would! And that’s how you’re supposed to treat others.

The songwriter said, ‘Love wasn’t put in your heart to stay; love isn’t love till you give it away’. Here are four good reasons for saying ‘I love you’ on a regular basis: 1) You need to say it. 2) You need to hear yourself say it. 3) Others need to hear you say it. 4)

You need to hear it from others. So don’t be afraid to say those three little words! Once you start - you’ll never go back!

Josh 10-12, John 2

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Your Anger Is Doing Damage
‘Do not be quickly provoked.’

Ecclesiastes 7:9
The UCB Word for Today - 7 Apr 2016


Angry outbursts are destructive in all relationships, especially in your home. Children are the most vulnerable to parental anger, and they mirror their parents’ behaviour.

We shape our children’s destiny by our words, behaviours, and attitudes, and if they’re raised in a home that’s consistently high-volume, they’ll react similarly.

Your actions are training your children to be hysterical and violent. Soon everyone will be overreacting, flying into fits of rage, and attacking one another.

When you exhibit tantrum-like behaviour you’re acting out of a selfish need to get what you want, when you want it, in the way you think you ought to have it.

Please - for your family’s sake - start acting like an adult; exhibit self-control. ‘Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises’ (Hebrews 6:12 NKJV). Notice, you must have faith and patience.

You may not be able to control what happens in life, but you can certainly control your reaction. Whether it’s the anger a father brings home from the workplace, or a wife’s anger towards her husband, it can bring a curse.

Simeon and Levi harboured anger in their hearts and became vicious and vindictive murderers. Because of this, a curse came upon them, and the anger was passed down from generation to generation (see Genesis 49).

You must break the curse by resisting the temptation to let anger dictate your behaviour. In the words of James: ‘My dear brothers, take note … Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires’ (James 1:19-20 NIV 1984 Edition).


Josh 13-15, John 3:1-21

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

How to Pray
‘Your Father knows exactly what you need!’

Matthew 6:8
The UCB Word for Today - 8 Apr 2016


Jesus said: ‘When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do.

They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.


Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!’ (vv. 7-8 NLT). When people say, ‘I don’t know how to pray,’ what they usually mean is that they don’t know how to pray like us.

They don’t know how to use our ‘Christian jargon’. Jesus says you don’t need to worry about getting the words right because ‘your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him’. God’s listening to our hearts more than our words.

We don’t have to be self-conscious; He’s not grading us on how well we express ourselves. Compare prayer to breathing. You breathe instinctively without awareness and conscious attention; it’s a natural expression of our moment-by-moment dependence on oxygen.

That’s how God wants us to engage in our communication with Him. He wants to be the air we breathe and the environment in which we live. Edwin Keith said, ‘Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the Spirit of God’.

Through prayer we can live in continuous contact with God. Jesus said, ‘Pray to your Father secretly, and your Father, who knows your secrets, will reward you’ (v. 6 TLB). Prayer isn’t a public demonstration of how spiritual you are.


Communication with the One we love calls for getting alone with Him, away from interruptions and distractions. It’s about you and your Father having an intimate talk.

Josh 16-18, John 3:22-36

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Don’t Intimidate, and Don’t Be Intimidated
‘God has not given us a spirit of … timidity.’

2 Timothy 1:7
The UCB Word for Today - 9 Apr 2016


One of the most famous intimidators in the Bible was Goliath. He boasted, ‘Come… and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!’ (1 Samuel 17:44 NKJV). But David didn’t have ‘a spirit of … timidity,’ so he replied, ‘This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head’ (v. 46 NIV 1984 Edition). Intimidators count on you to wilt in the face of verbal attack.


That’s why you must let them know you refuse to give in, and that you have the God-given strength to resist their tactics. God never intended anyone to oppress or dominate another person.


So stand up for yourself today in His strength! And if you are the intimidator, ask yourself why you feel the need to gain power and control over others.


Indeed, you may need the help of a seasoned counsellor to help you work through it. Intimidators often grow up in a chaotic or negative environment in which they feel powerless to change their circumstances.


As a result they vow never to allow their lives to be out of control again, so they seek control instead. But their so-called strength just masks their insecurities and fears. Whatever the cause, intimidators can never hope to have a meaningful relationship with anyone they force into submission.

And since the spirit of intimidation doesn’t come from God, there’s only one other source - Satan. Understand this: God is in control of every aspect of your life, so you’ve no need to control, or be controlled by the behaviour of others.


Josh 19-21, John 4:1-30

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


You Must Forgive Them
‘If you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you.’

Mark 11:25
The UCB Word for Today - 10 Apr 2016


When asked which emotions contribute most to physical illness, a group of eminent doctors said, ‘Anger and unforgiveness’. That’s because over time they release deadly toxins into your body.


One doctor said, ‘It’s not what you are eating, but what’s eating you that threatens your health’. When someone hurts you, there are four things you should do: 1) Talk to them. Now, there’s a right time, a right place, and a right way to do it.


Before you say anything, ask God to guide your thoughts and words. Then say what’s in your heart in a loving, low-key, non-judgemental way. After that, leave the rest with God. He can do a better job of changing things than you can. 2) Don’t retaliate.


When you’re tempted to lash out at someone, stop and remember the price Jesus paid to take away the sins you commit. Seeing your offender through God’s eyes will help you to forgive just about anybody. 3) Let it go. As long as you dwell on the issue it’ll keep hurting you.


You may let someone off your hook, but that doesn’t mean they’re off God’s hook. He will deal with them the right way and bring about the right result, which is something you can’t do. 4) Ask God to bless them.


You say, ‘Are you serious?’. Yes; Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you’ (Luke 6:27-28 NIVUK 2011 Edition). And when Jesus tells you to do something, He gives you the grace to do it.


Luke 7:1-30, Ps 37-39

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Are You the ‘Strong, Silent Type’?
‘Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”’

Proverbs 31:28-29
The UCB Word for Today - 11 Apr 2016


In their book The Language of Love, authors Gary Smalley and John Trent tell of a woman who was feeling frustrated because her husband would come home from work each night and not talk to her.

Finally, she told him a story about a man who went to breakfast with some friends.


He ate a big meal, then gathered up the crumbs and put them in a bag. Later that day he went to lunch with some business associates and ate another big meal.


Again, he put a few crumbs in the bag. When he came home that night, he handed his wife the bag of leftovers.

Then the woman told her husband, ‘That’s what you are doing to me. All day the children and I wait to talk with you when you get home.

But you don’t share yourself with us.

After being gone all day, you hand us a doggie bag and turn on the television set.’ The husband said that hearing this hit him like a two-by-four.


He apologised, and began to work on opening himself to his wife and family. If you’re the ‘strong, silent type’, you’ll have to work a bit harder to accomplish this. But it’s worth it in order to have a good marriage.

The wonderful qualities that attracted you to your spouse are still there, you just have to look for them and express appreciation for them.


Solomon puts it this way: ‘Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”’.


Josh 22-24, John 4:31-54

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Bringing People to Jesus (2)
‘They came … bringing a paralytic … carried by four.’


Mark 2:3
The UCB Word for Today - 28 Apr 2016


Some people have to be ‘carried’ to Jesus because they can’t get to Him by themselves. Like the man in the story, they are paralysed. ‘Paralysed by what?’ you ask.

Paralysed by an out-of-control behaviour. Paralysed by a belief system that tells you you’re too sinful for God to ever love and redeem you.

Paralysed by the memory of something that happened in your childhood and now you’re afraid to talk about it.

Paralysed by an addiction to illegal substances, prescription drugs, gambling, pornography, alcohol, work, or money.


Whatever your addiction - one thing is for sure - it’s paralysing. You can be paralysed by fear, anxiety, depression, a bottomed-out sense of self-worth, or a nightmarish childhood of neglect and abuse.


On the other hand, you can be a self-made man or woman paralysed by success, materialism, greed, self-absorption - not acknowledging any need in your life for God.


Is any of this hitting close to home? Jesus began His ministry with these words: ‘The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD’ (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV).


The New Living Translation Bible paraphrases the latter part of verse nineteen by saying, ‘the time of the LORD’s favor has come’. Here’s the good news! Life may not always have been good to you, but God’s grace and smile of favour can change all of that - starting today.


1 Sam 15-16, John 11:30-57