Everyone Needs a Point of Reference

Admiral Byrd, the famous explorer, once found himself about a hundred yards away from his South Pole hut when a sudden blizzard hit. The snow was blinding and he had no landmarks where he could get his bearings. He knew if you couldn’t find his hut within a matter of minutes he would die.

He realized if he went searching for his hut without a point of reference, he would probably get lost. He refused to panic and had to think quickly. Here’s what he did. He stuck his ten-foot pole in the ground and tied his red scarf on the pole. Then he began looking for his hut, always keeping the red scarf in view. He went off in one direction looking for his hut, couldn’t find it, but came back to his pole. Then he went in another direction looking, but came back again. Three times he came back to his point of reference. Finally on his fourth try he found his hut.

God's Word is our reference point that gives us direction in life. Without a reference point that we keep going back to, we will wander aimlessly through life. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). 

Many people have a Bible but never read it because they don't know where to start. I encourage you to start in the New Testament book of Mark and read 5 minutes a day. For example, read Mark 1:1-20 (half a chapter). The next day read Mark 1:21-45. You can read more than 5 minutes, but mark where you stop reading and then start there the next day.

Some people have a hard time understanding the King James Version because of the ancient language. I recommend an easy-to-understand yet accurate version like the NEW King James Version (which changes the ancient words like "thee" to modern words like "you") or the New American Standard Bible. 

After you finish the book of Mark, choose another New Testament book such as Acts or Philippians. Before you know it, you will have read the entire New Testament. Then you can do the same with the Old Testament. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net 

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God Promises to Reward Us In Eternity

Baron de Rothschild was one of the richest men in the world. One day Rothschild decided it would be humorous to dress up like a beggar and have his portrait painted by an artist named Ary Scheffer. The Baron put on rags, struck a pose, and held out a tin cup. While he was posing, a friend of the artist entered into the room. Thinking he was a real beggar, the friend dropped a coin into Rothschild’s tin cup.

Ten years later, the man who gave the money to Rothschild received a letter containing a bank order for 10,000 francs. The note said, “Years ago you gave some money to a beggar in the studio of Ary Scheffer. Today he sends you the returns on your investment. Signed, Baron de Rothschild.” 

God promises to reward His children for helping those less fortunate. Jesus said, “When you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:13–14).  (Making Today Count for Eternity p.89)

Let’s think about this reception. When the crippled, lame, and blind arrive at the dinner, you will need to assist them in getting around. Then you’ll help feed them because they probably won’t be able to feed themselves. And since they can’t repay you, you’ll have to wait for God to reimburse you. It will be after you die and are resurrected.

At the time we receive our resurrection bodies, we will also receive our eternal rewards and assignments for the next life. And the formerly crippled, lame, and blind whom you served at the dinner will rejoice with you in their perfected resurrection bodies. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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Would you please consider giving a year-end gift to Making Life Count Ministries? All gifts are tax deductible. You can give by check or CLICK HERE to give by credit card.

     Our ministry receives 300,000 page views every year from all over the world.

     People living in over 17 countries receive our weekly devotionals by email

     Over 29, 000 people receive our Devotionals through Twitter.

     Our Devotional page has over 384,000 page views.

     MakingLife Count Ministries has 270 Bible studies, sermons and info.

Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

Does Time Heal All Wounds?

In the 1963 Canadian Football League championship game, QB Joe Kapp got into a fight with Angelo Mosca, who was a defensive lineman on the opposing team. The referee stepped in and broke up the fight. After the game was over, they continued to dislike each other.

Forty-eight years later in 2011, the two former pro football players were invited to appear at a luncheon for the Canadian Football League. Joe Kapp was 73 years old and Angelo Mosca was 74 years old. When the two players were introduced, the luncheon's host give Kapp an olive branch to give to Mosca as a peace offering. Everyone thought it would be a light-hearted moment about their feud and would bring a laugh from the audience.

Instead of handing it to him, Kapp pushed it into Mosca’s face and then punched him. Mosca retaliated by hitting him with his cane. Like the referee did 48 years before, the host stepped in and broke up the fight. Both men were still angry over an incident that happened in 1963. If time could heal wounds, 48 years should be enough time.

God put a time limit on how long to be angry. It’s not 48 years, but less than 24 hours. “Be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day” (Eph. 4:26 NCV). If you don’t throw water on the fire before the sun goes down, your anger will keep flaring up—even 48 years later.

Time doesn’t heal all wounds. Forgiveness does. Whatever was done to you, it’s time to let it go. Forgive and release the wrongdoing into God’s hands. It’s the only way to have peace of mind. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY “Who are the Two Witnesses in Revelation?” CLICK HERE

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Making Life Count Ministries

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Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

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Do You Want to Take Revenge?

A woman in Massachusetts started a revenge business called “Enough is Enough.” Her clients are spurned lovers, terrorized employees, vindictive neighbors, and anyone else who wants to “get even.” She has carried out revenge by delivering a dead, smelly fish to a philandering husband, thirteen dead roses in a black box to ex-girlfriend, and a stuffed shirt to a pompous boss.

She got the idea for her business after driving a florist delivery truck for a boss she described as “the grumpiest, most unpleasant person ever born.” She quit her job of delivering beautiful flowers to loved ones and made a business of delivering vengeance to hated ones.

Revenge is wishing evil to come on a person as payback for causing harm. However, God says revenge is His right alone. “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19). If you invoke wrath on someone as payback, you’re stealing a right that’s reserved for God. It’s going to backfire on you and make your situation worse.

Instead of punishing your enemies, let God deal with them in His timing. Your job is to not let evil overcome you, but to overcome evil by doing good. (Rom 12:21) www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY on “666 and the Mark of the Beast” CLICK HERE

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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Where God Guides, God Provides

In the early 1900s, God called Rees Howells and his wife to go to Africa as missionaries. They lived in Wales and didn’t have the funds to get to Africa. The Howells first needed to get to London to begin their faith journey.

They didn’t have enough money to buy train tickets all the way to London, but they did have enough to buy tickets to Llanelly station in Wales. From there they would have to catch another train to London, but they couldn’t buy tickets there because they had spent all their money to get to Llanelly.  

The train to London would arrive in two hours. As they sat in Llanelly station, they prayed for God to provide the ticket money before the train arrived. God told Rees to get in the ticket line. He took a step of faith and got in line behind a dozen people. As the line kept getting shorter, Rees continued to stay in line even though he was broke.

With only two people ahead of him, a man turned around and said he had changed his mind. Then the stranger put thirty shillings in his hand and walked away. It was the amount needed to buy their tickets to London! The miraculous provision was like the ram caught in the thicket at the last moment for Abraham (Gen. 22:13).

Rees and his wife served as missionaries and became a channel of revival in Africa. And it all started with trusting God for train tickets. Are you obeying what God is telling you to do?  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY on “The Antichrist” CLICK HERE

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Making Life Count Ministries

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www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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But ... Do You Know the Whole Story?

In 1962, a newspaper showed a picture of new United States senators taking the oath of office. One of the senators raised his left hand instead of his right hand at the swearing-in. Someone wrote a letter to the editor criticizing the senator for being unpatriotic. “He’s not qualified to be in office. He doesn’t even know his right hand from his left.”

The critical person must have been embarrassed and ashamed after he found out the real reason why the man raised his left hand. The senator was WWII war hero, Daniel Inouye, who was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor. He lost his right arm in battle while fighting the Germans. He raised his left hand for the swearing-in because he didn’t have a right hand.

Critical people usually make judgments based on misleading or incomplete information. Have you ever judged someone only to find out later there was a lot more to the story? Jesus said, “Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged . . . And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own?” (Matt. 7:1-2). The “speck” is only a small piece of information but not the entire story.

Before you midjudge someone, make sure you know all the facts and everything the person is going through. You might change your mind.  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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What is the Beast with 7 heads and 10 horns in the Book of Revelation? CLICK HERE for the answer.

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Making Life Count Ministries

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Follow the Air Bubbles

When a scuba diver is deep underwater it's difficult to tell which way is up because the water diffuses the light and he can't feel the pull of gravity. He can easily become disoriented and lose his sense of direction. His mind will start playing tricks on him, telling him that up is down and down is up. If the diver panics, he will place his life in danger if he swims in the wrong direction.

The diver can get out of his predicament if he'll remember one simple rule--to follow his air bubbles. Scuba divers are taught that no matter which way he thinks is the right direction, the bubbles are always correct. They never go sideways. They never go down. They always go up. The diver must ignore his own sense of direction and trust his air bubbles to guide him.

It’s easy to get confused in today’s world when so many voices are shouting at us that right is wrong—and wrong is right. Don’t be fooled by the pressure to conform. When you aren’t sure what to believe, remember one simple rule--follow what the Lord says.

Just as the air bubbles are never wrong, the Bible is always correct and will point you in the right direction, even when people may say otherwise. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Prov. 3:5-6).

So don’t follow the way that seems right, but isn’t. Trust your air bubbles, God's Word, and you won’t go wrong. .  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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How do you explain Reincarnation—people who claim to remember past lives? CLICK HERE for the answer.

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com