CIAM Radio

Family feuds, wayward kids, parent-child clashes, husband-wife disagreements, and other in-house pressures have a way of breaking our spirits and stealing our joy. And no one is immune who compromises with God’s standard—not even a king such as David. In this study we witness the monarch’s misery as the sword of consequences falls on him and his family.

From the Series: Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters

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Everyone is formed and uniquely woven by God Himself. You can’t get better than the hand of God shaping your life.

One day when our daughter was a teenager, I heard an interesting variety of emotions coming from her room. First, I'd hear her laughing, then sniffling, then she'd let out an occasional "I can't believe it!" Finally, my curiosity got the best of me; I had to know what she was doing. She said, "I'm reading my diary, Dad." Well, as she was reading that diary, she was reliving a lot of great moments, some hard times, and a number of lessons learned. I've often wished I could go back and enter into how I felt at some key moments in my life. The problem is I didn't write it down.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Power of Journaling God."

Now, it really is true: if you want to keep something, write it down. Like a friend once told me, "The weakest ink is stronger than the strongest memory. In fact, when it comes to some of life's experiences - some of life's most eternally important experiences - writing it down shouldn't be optional.

Your most important experiences in life are your personal times with Jesus Christ. They are what shape your life here. They're a foretaste of what your eternity is going to be about - being with Jesus. And this side of heaven, the primary place where you meet your Lord is in His Word - the Bible. But it won't change you if you don't remember what He says to you.

Which is what God is saying in our word for today from the Word of God in James 1:22-25. God says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does."

Like a person looking in the mirror in the morning, you're supposed to look into God's Word to see what needs to change. First, God says to reflect on what He's saying to you in His Book, "looking intently" into it. Then He says to remember what He's said to you, and that's usually the problem. Even a few hours later, we probably can't remember what He said or what we read. And these verses in James imply that we will only make spiritual progress if we are "not forgetting" what we heard from the Lord.

That's why I tried something many years ago; keeping a daily spiritual journal. If I gave it a title, I'd just call it "My Times with Jesus." I never kept a personal diary about how I was feeling but I did start a journal of my times with Jesus. And I started doing it and I haven't stopped, including this very morning. Those entries in a notebook have turned out to be the tangible proof of God at work in my life - an album literally showing my growth in Jesus Christ.

I really want to strongly recommend this spiritual journaling to you. As you browse back through it later on, you'll be able to see the pattern of God's leading as it's unfolded and you'll find in it an incredible faith-builder in the crunch times.

Write down the date and where you're reading. Then read a few verses two or three times. Then write down two things: first, what did you read? Summarize what God was saying in your own words, not Bible words. Secondly, write down what you're going to do differently that day because of what God said. (1) What did God say? (2) What am I going to do differently because of it?

It's really exciting to keep a record of what God says and what He does in your life. That diary will be filled with the power and the presence of your Lord. And when you're feeling discouraged or confused or alone, reach for the record and experience again the wonderful power of a journal that is glowing with your personal e

Read: Ephesians 2:19-22

“Hey, Blaine, what are you working on?” Dad asked as he walked into Blaine’s room.

“I’m making a building out of interlocking blocks for the library contest,” Blaine said. “If I post a picture on their website, I could win a free meal at a local restaurant.” Suddenly, he frowned. “Hey, where’s my baseplate? Can you help me find it, Dad? It’s the big flat one that I have to build on to make sure the structure won’t tip over.”

“All right.” Dad kneeled and began to look through the chest of blocks. He pulled out a large flat piece like Blaine had described. “Is this it?”

“Yeah! Thanks, Dad.”

“Do you mind if I build something too? I loved playing with blocks like this when I was younger.”

“I think I’ll build a minivan like ours.” Dad began looking for black blocks to use for the tires. “So, did you finish reading this week’s Bible passage for Sunday school?”

“I started, but I don’t really understand it. It talks about something being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the cornerstone.”

“It’s talking about the church,” Dad explained. “Everyone who joins the church by trusting in Jesus is an important part of it.” He pointed at the blocks Blaine was attaching to his building. “It’s like those blocks. Imagine if you only got one block in a set! You wouldn’t be able to build a complete car, or building, or much of anything with one block. But when you have many blocks that fit together perfectly, you can build a structure that is complete.”

“So, are we the blocks?” Blaine asked.

“Yes! Christians make up the church the way your blocks make up the building you’re working on. And just like your baseplate, Jesus is the base of our church. It’s built on what He did to save us from sin—His death and resurrection. Like blocks that connect together, we are connected through the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us and is shaping us to be more like Jesus.”

Blaine nodded. “I think I understand better now. And I’m finished with my building!”

“All right. I’ll take a picture,” Dad said. “I can already taste that free meal!”

–Jessica Kleeberger

How about you? Have you ever built something with interlocking blocks? If so, you know how much fun it is to see a bunch of tiny pieces come together to form a complete creation. The church is the same way! Each Christian belongs to the church and has a part to play in what God is building on the foundation set by Jesus. His Spirit lives in us and works through us so others can see Jesus’s love.

Today's Key Verse: In [Jesus] you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:22 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: The church is built on Jesus

Get a clear picture of when you receive the Holy Spirit and how to rely on Him.

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In his book Generation to Generation, family therapist and Rabbi Edwin Friedman introduced the phrase “a non-anxious presence.” Friedman’s thesis, written in 1985, is that “the climate of contemporary America has become so chronically anxious that our society has gone into an emotional regression that is toxic to well-defined leadership.” Friedman focused on how chronic anxiety spreads within a system—a family, a workplace, a congregation. Yet in the same way, a leader can offer a non-anxious presence that will spread through a system, becoming a person of peace in the middle of a storm.

Psalm 4 is a psalm of David, written in the middle of one of life’s storms. David was in the grip of anxiety. So, he cried out to God: “Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer” (v. 1). While he was fearful for his life, he was also aware that his followers were fearful too: “Many, Lord, are asking, ‘Who will bring us prosperity?’” (v. 6).

David’s decision to trust God created a non-anxious presence in the presence of anxiety! “In peace I will lie down and sleep,” he said. David could rest, because “you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (v. 8).

We too can rest in the non-anxious presence God provides. We can spread His peace wherever we go.

In Luke 14:28, readers are wisely reminded to count the cost. With the average age of a first-time homebuyer now approaching 40, many are wondering whether the right time to buy is now or if renting is still the best option. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West explores some common misunderstandings and explains how to approach homeownership with wisdom and patience. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live—where biblical wisdom meets today’s financial decisions—weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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It’s Witness Wednesday! Todd heads back to campus at Georgia Tech to discuss faith, morality, and Jesus himself with several real-life students. Whatever the topic, whoever the student, the question stays the same: is Jesus who He says He is – and if so, what does that mean for you?

Segment 1

• Orrin says he’s a Christian—but when pressed on truth, postmodernism, and being “born again,” does his faith rest on feelings or repentance and faith?

• Todd forces the question most avoid: If Hinduism says one thing and Christianity another—can both be right?

• Todd brings Orrin to consider whether or not he has truly been born again.

Segment 2

• An aerospace engineer rejects institutional religion—but admits belief in rules, order, and possibly a “rule-maker.”

• Todd walks him through conscience, justice, and the courtroom of God—are you really “good” by your own standard?

• Christianity’s radical claim: You don’t go to hell for lack of faith—you go because of sin.

Segment 3

• A self-professed Christian says Jesus is the “tipping point”—but can he clearly articulate the gospel when challenged?

• Todd pushes him: Is Islam wrong? Is Hinduism wrong? • The reason for anyone going to heaven is made clear: not our good deeds, not what we’ve done – but what Christ has done for us.

Segment 4

• Our final student of the day is pressed on whether the order around us necessitates a designer.

• Todd drills into conscience: lying, lust, blasphemy—how would a just God and judge treat lawbreaking?

• The offer laid bare: Your fine has been paid. Will you repent—or trust your own goodness instead?

___

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